RSS feed for STAFF @ Florida Baptist Witness (FBW) Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0900 SUWANNEE (FBW)—Suwannee Baptist Association, with offices in Live Oak, has called Don Walker as director of missions. <BR><BR> “This is a role I have observed for many years. It will be exciting to equip and enable churches in Suwannee association,” Walker said. Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-After five-year-old Ben Bowersox severed four fingers and broke bones in both arms and hands Tuesday night in an accident at a Jacksonville airport, prayers begin to pour in from around the world.<br><br>“Ben is an incredible trooper,” Steve Bowersox said. “He has been very brave and poised through this experience. I truly cannot say thank you enough for the outpouring of prayers, support, and love. It makes a difference. We are now praying for a miracle.” Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Members of First Baptist Church in Plant City April 30 joined in a Bible reading marathon in front of the State Capitol building in Tallahassee two days before the 62nd observance of the annual National Day of Prayer, May 2. Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBW) – A bill that requires medical attention be given to babies that survive abortion unanimously passed the Florida Senate today. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 TAMPA (FBW)—Terrace Church at Six Mile, formerly Six Mile Creek Baptist Church, in Tampa reopened Easter weekend after a three-month hiatus. Members of First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace, with the support of Tampa Bay Baptist Association, worked to refurbish the church site on North Falkenburg Road. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 OVIEDO (FBW) – Southern Baptist leader Richard Land will be honored with a lifetime achievement award during “The Awakening 2013: Fighting for the Soul of America” conference, April 19-20. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 <i>Florida Baptist Witness</i> has an immediate vacancy for a <b>PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT</b> in its Jacksonville office. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Carl Brown Setterlind Jr., retired minister of music, died March 19 in Belton, S.C. He was 78. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 SARASOTA (FBW)—Southside Baptist Church in Sarasota will host the 2013 Southwest Florida Conference on Evangelism and Soul-Winning April 22. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBW)–Canena Johnson, 37, wife of Miami Pastor Jerry Johnson, died March 21 after being struck by an SUV while jogging around 6 a.m. She and her husband were married Jan. 26. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 TALLHASSEE (FBW) – Leading evangelical political leader Ralph Reed will address a legislative prayer breakfast April 11 in Tallahassee sponsored by the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0900 KISSIMMEE (FBW)-Wesley Matthew (Matt) Weeks, administrative pastor of First Baptist Church in Kissimmee, died at home March 28 after a three-month battle with cancer. He was 35.<br><br> He was a graduate of University of Florida in Gainesville and a student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., lacking only a credit in Greek to receive the Master of Divinity degree. He served Highview Baptist Church in Louisville before moving to Kissimmee in 2007. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Two associations in the Panhandle have called new directors of missions. <BR><BR>Holmes Baptist Association called Barrett Lampp as DOM Feb. 12. Lampp retired in July 2012 as associate pastor for assimilation and pastoral care at Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee. Although he will turn 80 in November, he told Florida Baptist Witness he is “feeling like 50 again.” Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (FBW)—The annual Healthcare Missions Conference of the Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship will be held in the Student Building of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., April 11-13. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Editor’s note: The following is a commitment made by men who participate in the “Join 1 Million Men” campaign against pornography. For more information, see, “Lakeland pastor creates ‘Join 1 Million Men’ to fight pornography”. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 GAINESVILLE (FBW)—A federal district court Feb. 13 dismissed a six-year old challenge by the ACLU against a Ten Commandments monument in Dixie County. Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (FBW)-Doris Moody, wife of Palm Beach Atlantic University founding president, Jess Moody, died Feb. 12.<br><br>William M.B. Fleming Jr., current president of PBA, said her commitment to Christian young people is “legendary.”<br><br>“Doris Moody was the elegant, compassionate, original First Lady of Palm Beach Atlantic University,” Fleming said, in a release on the school’s website. “Mrs. Moody’s organizational abilities were significantly used and greatly instrumental in the launching of the University’s mission to ‘enlighten minds, enrich souls and extend hands.’ Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—First Baptist Church Central Florida in Orlando will host Christian School 101 Feb. 25-26 to instruct church leaders in planning and starting a Christian school. First Baptist will offer the event in partnership with the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools and Florida Christian Schools. Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Several Baptist churches will host the Watoto Children’s Choir during its month-long tour of Florida. The choir, which aims to raise awareness about the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa, will be in Florida Feb. 13-March 15. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 MILTON (FBW)—Vivian Paulk Trimble, 87, retired IMB missionary to the Middle East, died Dec. 20 in Milton. She and her husband James W. (Bill) Trimble served more than 30 years in Lebanon, and among the people of Egypt, Greece, Morocco and Cyprus. <BR><BR> After serving churches in Mississippi and Louisiana, the Trimbles were appointed in 1960 to Beirut, Lebanon, where they remained with the Lebanese people throughout the civil war, often sleeping in basements and bomb shelters while mortar shells fell. She taught English to high school and seminary students, and mentored Arab Baptist ministers’ wives. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 NAPLES (FBW)-The former children’s minister at Bay Street Baptist Church in Eustis, Cecilia Renee Douglas, 33, was killed along with her daughters Madison, 4, and Rylee, 3, after their car crashed through a barrier on Alligator Alley Jan. 21, according to news reports.<br><br> Cecilia Douglas was pronounced dead at Physicians Regional Hospital and Rylee died at North Collier Hospital. Madison was airlifted to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg where she remained on life support until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Her father, Nathan Douglas, made the decision to remove her from life support after doctors said she had suffered irreversible brain damage, according to news reports. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 NAPLES (FBW)-The former children’s minister at Bay Street Baptist Church in Eustis, Cecilia Renee Douglas, 33, was killed along with her three-year-old daughter after their car crashed through a barrier on Alligator Alley Jan. 21, according to news reports. Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 CHIPLEY (FBW)-Alcus Brock, director of missions of the West Florida Baptist Association, died Jan. 21 at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ala., following a long illness. He was 85.<br><br>Brock, who had served the Chipley-based association 23 years, was a retired postal worker and a retired pastor. He previously served Ebenezer Baptist Church and New Orange Baptist Church, both in the West Florida association. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW) – Pro-family organization Florida Family Policy Council released Jan. 17 a listing of events around the Sunshine State planned to observed the 40th anniversary of <i>Roe v. Wade</i>, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion-on-demand in the United States. Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 DUNDEE (FBW)—A conference focused on worldview issues is slated for Jan. 20 at The Church on The Hill in Dundee, the church announced recently. <br><br> The church, formerly known as Dundee Baptist Church, will host the “Worldview Weekend Conference” with the purpose of equipping “Christians to understand the times in light of biblical truth and how God would have us respond,” according to a church news release. Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 The North American Mission Board has introduced an online equipping community for ministers’ wives named www.Flourish.me. Kathy Ferguson Litton, as a national consultant for NAMB’s ministry to pastors’ wives, leads Flourish with a team of ministry wives from across North America who understand the unique role in which these women serve. Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW) – Parents with students in Orange County public schools are being urged to speak out against a proposed “gender identity and expression” proposal the Orange County School Board is set to vote on Tuesday, Florida Family Action said today in an e-mail to supporters. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Horace Edgar Twine, 83, former pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, died Oct. 16. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Jackie Register of Graceville, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Malone, died Nov. 12. He was 63. Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Editor's note: Tim Maynard, pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in Jacksonville, is a candidate for president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which will meet Nov. 12-13 at First Baptist Church in Orlando. Florida Baptist Witness submitted questions to him and received written replies, which are published as received. For more about Maynard's nomination, see "Tim Maynard to be nominated FBSC president" in the July 12 issue. Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Editor's note: Clayton Cloer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Central Florida in Orlando, is a candidate for president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which will meet Nov. 12-13 at First Baptist Church in Orlando. Florida Baptist Witness submitted questions to him and received written replies, which are published as received. For more about Cloer's nomination, see "Clayton Cloer to be nominated FBSC president" in the Sept. 20 issue. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBW)—Fred H. Boehmer, 82, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Brandon, died Oct. 30 in Virginia. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church 1976-1995, and had previously served churches in Texas, Tennessee and Connecticut. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 COCOA BEACH (FBW)—Cheryl S. Babington, wife of Pastor Ken Babington of First Baptist Church in Cocoa Beach, died Oct. 24. She was 64. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TAMPA (FBW) – Pastors are invited to participate in an Oct. 16 conference call with Southern Baptist leader R. Albert Mohler Jr. to discuss issues related to the 2012 election, Salem Communications Florida announced recently. Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Former NFL coach Tony Dungy is a keynote speaker at a “faith symposium” being held to discuss efforts to assist children and families sponsored by two state agencies. Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (FBW)—The Alumni Association of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach will hold its annual golf tournament and auction Oct. 6 at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. In honor of the event’s 25th year, a tennis tournament will be held at the Health and Racquet Club at the same site. Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TEHRAN (BP)—Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been acquitted of apostasy and released, ending a saga that drew international attention and saw him spend more than 1,000 days in jail in the face of a death sentence—simply for being a Christian. Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ORANGE PARK (FBW) – The education building of Island View Baptist Church in Orange Park was damaged by a suspected arsonist early Sept. 16, causing $35,000 in damages, according to several news accounts. Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-First Baptist Church in Jacksonville announced Sept. 9 the choice of a Steve Bowersox, 56, to serve alongside senior associate worship pastor James Whitmire, 72, the executive pastor of worship.<br><br>Bowersox, founding executive director of Integrity’s Music Worship International, and executive pastor of worship at Christ the Redeemer Church in Ponte Vedra for 16 years, begins effectively immediately to “serve alongside” Whitmore to further develop enhance the music and worship ministry, according to a news release. Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 John and Delores Downing were honored Aug. 26 at a dinner banquet as he retired after 30 years as pastor of College Road Baptist Church in Ocala. Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)-Laddie Pierce, pastor of West Pensacola Baptist Church, was shot in the leg by a member of the church in the church parking lot on his way to Wednesday night Bible study Sept. 6, according to news reports. Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 DOTHAN, Ala. (FBW)-Mabel Arthur Southerland, widow of James E. Southerland, president emeritus of Baptist College of Florida, died Aug. 26 in Dothan. Ala. She was 94.<br><br>A graduate of Stetson University in DeLand, she taught Sunday School many years, and was a minister’s wife 60 years. She participated in her husband’s ministry as president of Baptist College of Florida in Graceville (then Baptist Bible Institute) 1957-1977. Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Wayne Upton, 82, retired pastor and seminary professor, died Aug. 14 in Jacksonville. He served as pastor of Jacksonville Heights Baptist Church 28 years and was professor of missiology at Luther Rice Seminary when it was located in Jacksonville. He travelled widely and helped educate students in 62 nations. He was a 1959 graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and also served as pastor of churches in Alabama and Ohio. Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In Rock Hill, S.C., Wednesday, customers were waiting 75 minutes for a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, when they could have driven down the road to McDonald’s and been in and out in five minutes. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WINDEMERE (FBC)—Carla Chappell Matheson, 56, wife of Mark Matheson, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Windemere, died July 6 in a car accident in Orlando. An English professor at Valencia College, she was a graduate of Salem College, Winston Salem, N.C., and Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va.(BGR)—A health care missions conference will be held at the International Learning Center in Richmond, Va., Oct. 11-13. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0900 KINGSPORT, Tenn.—Evelyn Knapp, 82, of Lithia, Fla., International Mission Board missionary to Tanzania for 26 years (1964-1990), died July 27. She and her husband, Douglas, who survives her, labored in the extraordinary work of God, which saw 56,000 new believers in their last 8 years in the Kyela District of Southern Tanzania. <br><br> Evelyn, a very fluent Swahili speaker, founded a youth ministry based on Bible memorization and drills that spread over the whole area. She was also the key figure in the local women’s ministry, encouraging women as leaders of this ministry. She taught pastors in a local Bible School, and with Douglas started a music ministry that led to many new hymns being written by local musicians. A new songbook had to be written with all the new songs that were composed. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WINDEMERE (FBW)-Carla Matheson, 56, the wife of Palm Beach Atlantic University Orlando Campus adjunct professor Mark Matheson, died July 6 in a head-on crash in Windermere that left Matheson severely injured, according to news reports. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW Port Richey (FBW)—Guy Sanders Jr., past president of Gideons International and a member of First Baptist Church in New Port Richey, died July 8 following a long illness. He was 85. Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Florida Family Policy Council expects to distribute 2.3 million voter guides for the Aug. 14 primary election in the Sunshine State—and another 3 million before the November general election, President John Stemberger said in a July 30 news release. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our <a href="floridafocusform.fbw" target="new"> online form.</a> Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The battle over the legalization of physician-assisted suicide continues internationally. <br><br> In recent developments: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Religious freedom advocates need to persuade each presidential candidate to “grow a backbone” and speak out for the rights of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East, a Southern Baptist church-state specialist said at a recent Washington conference. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—State legislators in Tennessee have made it official: Sex toys and graphic promotions of sexual activity are not welcome in public schools. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)—Jordan McBride, a member of Bellview Baptist Church in Pensacola, took top honors at the 2012 National Invitational Bible Drills and Speakers’ Tournament June 22 in Brunswick, Ga. He is the first winner from Florida in the 9-year history of the national event.<BR><BR>McBride’s victory in the high school division of the national Bible Drill finals came after winning the Florida High School Bible Drills April 21 at Trinity Baptist Church in Apopka. His older brother, Joseph, was runner-up to Jordan in the state event. Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 BENNINGTON, Vt. (BP)—A college with strong Southern Baptist ties—including to a Florida leader—is preparing to open in Vermont, the least-churched state in the nation, with a goal of training church planters for service in New England. Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Last year was an encouraging one for church planting by Southern Baptists. According to new statistics released by the North American Mission Board, the number of plants reported by state convention partners grew by 27 percent—from 780 to 990—between 2010 and 2011. Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Messengers had opportunities to ask questions of the presidents of Southern Baptist entities during those entities’ annual reports to the convention in New Orleans. Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BCF)—Representatives from the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville attended the historic Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting recently in New Orleans. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowly upheld the 2010 health-care law, dealing a disheartening setback to pro-life and religious liberty advocates who fervently oppose the controversial measure. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s health care law, it left untouched sections of the law that have concerned members of the pro-life and religious liberty communities for months. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC)—Access to theological education is increasingly available to interested students throughout Florida. <br><br> Beginning this fall, courses will be offered for French and Creole-speaking Haitian students through the Orlando distance site of The Baptist College of Florida (BCF). This marks the newest Theological Education Ministries initiative from the Florida Baptist Convention, whose goal is to provide fully-accredited, fully-accessible theological education within two hours of every Florida Baptist. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—An event designed to train persons to serve as interim pastors will be broadcast in four locations through interactive video during 2012. Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (FBW)—In a joint effort between Baptist College of Florida and the Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief team, 58 college students were trained in disaster relief last Spring at BCF in Graceville. The training was conducted by FBC Disaster Relief state leaders and adult volunteers equipped to train others in disaster relief work. <br><br> After months of conversations that began with a college worker roundtable at The North American Mission Board, a program was discussed to train college students in disaster relief. The meeting included NAMB Disaster Relief staff, state DR leaders, and college representatives including Baptist Collegiate Ministry leaders, mission mobilizers, the director of FBC Disaster Relief Ministries Fritz Wilson, and BCF professor David Coggins. Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—In one of the most historic meetings in the Southern Baptist Convention’s 167-year history, messengers June 19-20 elected the body’s first African American president and voted to keep the convention’s name while approving a descriptor, “Great Commission Baptists,” for those churches that wish to use it. <BR><BR> The momentous occasion in New Orleans brought media from across the nation to see the election of Fred Luter, a descendent of slaves who now is the president of a convention whose founders, in 1845, defended slavery. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The new blue and silver Honda 360 motorcycle was mangled junk. A young Fred Luter Jr. lay in a hospital bed, his left leg broken in several places, a hole in his head. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Fred Luter, in his first sermon after his election as Southern Baptist Convention president, exhorted believers to place their trust in the Lord and work through the church to heal today’s troubled society. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—A sold-out crowd of an estimated 1,800 ministers’ wives heard Mary Kaissan speak on “The Hidden Person of the Heart,” drawn from 1 Peter 3, at its annual luncheon June 19 in New Orleans. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network installed Eugene McCormick, a strategist with the African American Church Development team of the Florida Baptist Convention, as president in its annual meeting June 17 in New Orleans. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Messengers offered 19 motions during the opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans June 19. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (LWCR)—Nearly equal numbers of pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention consider their churches as Calvinist/Reformed as do Arminian/Wesleyan, although more than 60 percent are concerned about the affect of Calvinism on the denom­ination, according to a new survey from LifeWay Research. Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- The new blue and silver Honda 360 motorcycle was mangled junk. A young Fred Luter Jr. lay in a hospital bed, his left leg broken in several places, a hole in his head. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn (BP)—Eighty-six percent of Southern Baptist Convention pastors who expressed an opinion believe it would be good for the convention to have an African-American leader. <br><br> Fred Luter, an African-American pastor from New Orleans, will be nominated for SBC president at the denomination’s annual meeting in June. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—The deadline for completing the biennial SBC Church Compensation Survey has been extended to June 30. Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—U.S. Census officials estimate that 24-million children in America – one out of three lives apart from a father, most with little or no contact. Those numbers have been on a steady increase for two generations, and the social impact is widespread. Scholars and social scientists have noted impacts on fatherless children ranging from criminal behavior to learning challenges, and even childhood obesity. Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (GUIDESTONE)—Ten dollars a month. That’s all Gordon and Alice Burks had left over from his salary after paying rent of $65 for their little place in Home Gardens, California. The small church Gordon had agreed to pastor couldn’t pay them more than $75 a month, but he followed the Lord’s calling in spite of the hardships it might entail. Ten dollars went a lot farther in the 1950s than it does today, but it still wasn’t much to buy groceries and pay other bills. Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Two reprimands have been issued to Richard Land by the trustee executive committee of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WASHINGTON, Md. (BP)–The president of the National African American Fellowship has voiced “a heart to forgive” following the reprimands of Richard Land issued by trustees of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 FORT MYERS (NSF)—The Lee County Commission on May 22 approved holding a November referendum about whether slot machines should be allowed at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track, the News-Press reported. Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (SBACS)—Forty-five high school seniors from the Class of 2012, enrolled in 12 SBACS member Christian schools, were selected to compete in a national awards program for their outstanding scholarship and/or musical achievements. Out of the forty-five finalists, five graduates shared the spotlight as national or regional contest winners, dividing $3,500 in college grants, with $1,000 awarded to each of two national winners and $500 to each of three regional winners. The checks will be distributed this summer to the colleges of their choice. Scholarship winners’ schools also received awards of $250 and $100 for each winner they nominated. Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Church planters and pastors from across the nation will gather July 13 at Walt Disney World in Orlando to hear from bestselling author, church planting consultant, and Florida Baptist pastor Nelson Searcy. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP/FBW)—David Uth, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, has been elected chairman of the International Mission Board trustees. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP)—Nate and Joanna Whitmire* told God they would go anywhere if He called them to missions. “It’s not like He’d ever call us to Africa,” they thought. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 OCALA (FBC)–Long time pastor, director of missions and church planting strategist Nevi A. Townsend, 81, died Monday, June 11 at an Ocala hospital after being transported there earlier that morning by emergency vehicle.<br><br>Townsend had been admitted to the hospital the Friday before his death complaining of chest pains but had returned home on Saturday.<br><br>Since 2000, Townsend served as a church planting consultant with the Florida Baptist Convention encouraging churches, associations and potential church planters to start new congregations. Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 List of Florida signers of “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” by 11:40 p.m. EST June 10. Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LIMA, Peru (BP)—“When we talk about going out into the world to fulfill the Great Commission, Latin America is a sleeping giant,” Tommy Larner said. <BR><BR> “We’re very much a part of it, but it is clearly Peruvian,” said Larner, an International Mission Board missionary who works with Peru a las Naciones (Peru to the Nations), a Peruvian Baptist organization begun to prepare believers to enter the mission field. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TEKAX, Yucatan, Mexico (BP)—No runway lights guide the plane from the night sky to the tarmac. Armed policÌa greet passengers as they snake their way through a line in customs and immigration. Baywatch plays over the airwaves like it is 1990. Along the roadside, discarded Coke bottles get picked up, dusted off and reused by passersby. <BR><BR> It was not comfortable, and for some it was even trying, but this was exactly the environment Donald Kim, assistant professor of Bible at the College at Southwestern, hoped for. For one week in January, Kim led a group of 24 Southwestern students to Tekax (te-kash), Mexico, where they worked with missionary Shelby Boyd. Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0900 HIGH SPRINGS (FBW)—The homespun humor of “Hee Haw” entertained more than 100 Saints Alive of Lafayette Baptist Association at their quarterly meeting May 3. The senior adults of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church in High Springs hosted the meeting and gathered a cast for the program that included Grandpa Jones, Minnie Pearl, Junior Samples and others. <BR><BR> Judy Langford, who played the piano for the program, said most of the Mt. Horeb cast found their roles “really natural.” Her husband, Harold Langford was Grandpa Jones, Verna Mae Steele played Minnie Pearl, and Donald Douglas took on the Junior Samples character. Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW) -- Religious conservatives and other advocates for children, seniors and people with disabilities are reeling from Sen. Ronda Storms' May 25 announcement that she'll leave the Florida Senate two years before her term expires to run for Hillsborough Property Appraiser. Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Black caps and flowing gowns filled The Baptist College of Florida assembly center May 11, marking an historic day in the life of the college. Sixty-five seniors earned diplomas. Graduates included the recipient of a master’s degree, Michael Orr, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Chipley; the first business leadership graduates—Celia Bass, Katie Butts, Rachel Lauen and Chris Shearer; three husbands who graduated with their wives—Todd (Heather) Larson, Bryan (April) Phillips, and Michael (Stephanie, who is also the BCF registrar) Orr; and a pair of brothers—Brennen and Richard Denson. Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Students and faculty at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville May 1 filled the R.G. Lee Chapel in anticipation of hearing from the Presidential Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The Committee on Committees which will assemble in New Orleans just prior to the SBC annual meeting, June 19-20 was announced May 4 by SBC President Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. The Committee on Committees nominates members of the Committee on Nominations who, in turn, nominates trustees to serve on boards of the various entities of the SBC. SBC Bylaw 19 also provides that the Committee on Committees “shall nominate all special committees authorized during the sessions of the Convention not otherwise provided for.” Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A church must plan how it will respond to disasters, large and small, in the community. The plan needs to be well-thought-out and discussed by the church leaders. The people in the congregation need to discuss the plan and determine how they, as individuals, can become part of this ministry. Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Jim Tatum, 85, longtime Sunday School teacher and leader at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, died Saturday evening, May 26, according to a Tweet on social media by his pastor Mac Brunson. Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Scott Holste has been elected as vice president for global strategic mobilization for the International Mission Board. Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has urged a key congressman to work for passage of legislation to protect the freedom of armed services members and chaplains in the wake of policy changes on homosexuality and same-sex “marriage” in the military. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP/FBW)—A five-part apology for “injudicious comments” was released May 9 by Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, regarding the Trayvon Martin killing. <br><br> Florida Baptist African American leader Maxie Miller and an African American Texas pastor who called for Land’s termination accepted Land’s apology. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Megachurch pastor Andy Stanley is being criticized for a recent sermon illustration involving a gay couple in which Stanley labeled adultery, but not homosexuality, a sin. Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—President Obama’s re-election campaign has fully embraced his public support of gay “marriage” and seems poised to make it a general election issue—even to the point of ridiculing Mitt Romney’s backing of traditional marriage. Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TEHRAN (BP)—The jailed Iranian pastor who could be executed for converting to Christianity has released a public letter asking for continued prayers and saying that while he wishes to be released, he has surrendered “to God’s will.” Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In order to comply with new safety regulations taking effect in June, churches need to replace their nursery cribs, which could already pose a danger to children and leave churches open to liability lawsuits. <br><br> The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved sweeping new safety rules, which outlaw drop-side cribs and require stronger hardware and supports. The commission said it is unlikely that existing cribs will meet the new standards. Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—James Newell, Associate Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, was invited recently to write an article for Biblical Illustrator, a quarterly Bible study magazine for leaders and learners featuring articles that assist in explaining biblical events, people, customs and Bible texts. Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Openings are still available for girls entering third through twelfth grades to attend Camp WorldLight this summer. The theme of this year’s camp, “Standout” will focus on missions in Eastern Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—A new on-line learning emphasis “E-quip” now offers more than 100 training opportunities through video training seminars for churches and church leaders. The videos can be accessed anytime and anywhere, including iPhones, iPads and most Android devices. Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The 2012 Committee on Nominations, composed of 22 pastors, 22 laypersons, two church staff and two associational directors of missions has been appointed by the officers of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The recommendation of “Great Commission Baptists” as a descriptive name and the prospective election of the first ever African American president are on the horizon for the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 19-20 meeting in New Orleans. <br><br> Messengers will decide whether to adopt the informal, non-legal “Great Commission Baptists” descriptor as recommended by the SBC Executive Committee, embracing the suggestion of a special task force appointed to study changing the SBC’s name, deemed by some a regional barrier to the Gospel. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—For New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, it will be a campus picnic. For the other five seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention, it will be a convention center setting. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The North American Mission Board is seeking to show Southern Baptists how to be involved in penetrating lostness across North America, as NAMB plans for the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans in June. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Messengers arriving in advance of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans are invited to worship at a June 17 service hosted by the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—For the first time, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting this year can stay up to date with an SBC Annual Meeting smartphone app, which will include more than a dozen features, including maps, alerts, the Book of Reports and the Daily Bulletin. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—In and around New Orleans prior to the June 19-20 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Southern Baptists who identify with various ethnic groups will come together over a common history to share ideas, food and fellowship for the purpose of strengthening each other to build up the Body of Christ. Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 DECATUR, Ga. (BP)—Despite conference organizers’ best attempts to keep the Baptist Conference on Sexuality & Covenant focused on broader issues April 19-21, the conversation often centered on the topic of homosexuality. Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville will hold commencement exercises May 11 at 10 a.m. for 65 seniors who have completed all of the requirements to earn their degree. For graduating seniors, the commencement ceremony marks the culmination of hard work, sacrifice, determination, and long hours of study. Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Nearly 4,000 people attended Vacation Bible School preview events this winter to prepare for “Amazing Wonders Aviation: Encountering God’s Awesome Power.” <BR><BR> Jerry Wooley, VBS specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources, described VBS previews as “great moments of bringing people together from all across the country” to build momentum for this summer’s outreach. Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 HOUSTON (LCR)—She’s done the Bible studies, so what’s next? <br><br> It’s time to live out of the abundance. <br><br> A new event from LifeWay Women called Abundance made its debut recently at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston. Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 RIDGECREST, N.C. (LCR)—Pastors and ministers looking for ways to expand their ministry reach through the written word now have a place to learn the craft at the popular Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—It was a hot muggy day in July of 2008 when three sisters Sierra, Erika, and Alexandra were placed in the emergency shelter on the Lakeland campus of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. A couple of months later they moved into one of the Lakeland cottages where they were embraced by their house parents. Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—By the end of the day March 23, students at The Baptist College of Florida were buzzing with excitement as spring break arrived and they could put away the books for a few days. Many students were traveling home for the first time during the semester, several had special events planned with family and friends, but all were excited about a week off from assignment deadlines, writing papers, and exams. One group of BCF students, however, spent their holiday on the mission field in Rorrucca, Honduras, with Joshua Creel, the youth pastor from First Newark Baptist Church in Thomasville, Ga. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Editor's note: What follows is a resolution proposed by Chris Roberts, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Panama City, for consideration during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans, June 19-20. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Across the state of Florida, the nation and the globe, the Cooperative Program is at work touching hearts and changing lives with the timeless message of the gospel. You are a partner in that transformation of lives. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW YORK (FBW)—David Uth, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando and president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, was the keynote speaker at an Easter Celebration April 4 in New York City which drew nearly 200 United Nations ambassadors, military advisors and their spouses. <BR><BR> Hosted by The Foreign Service Fellowship at the UN, the event was the third, according to Eddie McClelland, president and CEO of Florida Baptist Financial Services, who also attended the dinner and concert. Ken Welborn, a former North American Mission Board missionary, assisted in coordinating the event. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 MOUNT DORA (FBW)—Thomas Jamieson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Dora, said “it was a job and a privilege to celebrate Easter Sunday with the baptism of an entire Jewish family.” Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 HIGHLAND, Calif. (BP)—Beyond Beverly Hills’ designer-label storefronts and gated estates are apartments and condos filled with people from diverse walks of life. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Comments by Richard Land about the Trayvon Martin killing “have angered many and opened wounds from the past,” the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s executive committee said in a statement released April 18. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Former Watergate felon turned evangelical leader and Prison Fellowship founder Charles W. "Chuck" Colson, 80, died Saturday (April 21) in Fairfax, Va. He had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage in his brain in late March and was hospitalized ever since. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Leaders throughout the Southern Baptist Convention say Chuck Colson's death was a loss for evangelicalism and that his life—particularly his ministry in prisons—had a great eternal impact. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Add to the list of television viewing options a new game show that will test participants’ knowledge of the Bible. <br><br> Hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, “The American Bible Challenge” is set to debut on GSN, formerly the Game Show Network, with a pilot being filmed in late March. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—At least 555 unborn children have been saved from abortion so far in the latest 40 Days for Life campaign, the organization reported March 28. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKE CHARLES, La. (BP)—Within every Southern Baptist church there are people who can take the Gospel around the world—business professionals, IMB President Tom Elliff said. <br><br> Elliff announced a new component to the International Mission Board’s partnership with Southern Baptist churches during the March 20-21 trustee meeting at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, La.: “... a global, strategic mobilization of businessmen and women, corporate leaders across the Convention ...” Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKE CHARLES, La. (BP)—He was a rebellious punk rock skateboarder who openly renounced his family’s faith, telling his parents that “God was a joke.” Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)—A chapel service for the seminary community and a meeting for campus residents have followed the arrest of a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary student on sexual assault charges on Saturday, March 17. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land, who played a key role in the Southern Baptist Convention's 1995 repentance of the "racism of which we have been guilty," has caught media attention over what he views as the infusion of politics into the Trayvon Martin killing.<br><br>Land, on his radio show "Richard Land Live!" March 31, said President Obama and black leaders such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson should not have been so quick to jump into the case. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Baptist College of Florida in Graceville on April 17, will host a Discovering Church Planting Seminar on the Graceville Campus from 12 - 4 p.m. (CST). <BR><BR> The Discovering Church Planting Seminar is a one-day event that helps prospective church planters understand and clarify their interest and call to church planting. Participants will learn from field-tested church planters as they share insights and apply lessons learned from working with church plants. The seminar is not only geared for individuals who are interested in church planting, but also for churches interested in sponsoring a new church and denominational/network staff who are interested in learning more about church planting. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Over 200 prospective students and guest were welcomed to the Graceville campus of The Baptist College of Florida March 16 to confirm decisions about where they should continue their education. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—On a warm fall evening, Mercy Miller walked confidently down the aisle at her adoption ceremony at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers. With cameras flashing, she tried to hide her beaming smile as she greeted her new adopted family onstage. <br><br> It was an evening Mercy never thought possible when she was first placed on the Fort Myers campus of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes three years earlier. Her biological mother made some bad choices, which eventually led to her parental rights being terminated. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (BCF)-Family and friends gathered April 9 at First Baptist Church in Pensacola to honor former Baptist College of Florida President Joseph P. DuBose, Jr., 87, who died April 4. DuBose served as president of what was then called Baptist Bible Institute in Graceville 1977-1990. He is survived by his wife, Sybil, and three sons.<br><br>“Dr. Joe Dubose served as president during a pivotal time in the life of the college,” current BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen said. “It was a time in which the school was becoming a more broad-based Christian institution of higher education. He provided the leadership necessary to make the moves that were needed without losing the distinctively Christian posture of the school. We will be forever grateful for his contributions.” Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Southern Baptists across the nation will celebrate Cooperative Program Sunday April 22. It is a day that will recognize the efforts of Southern Baptists as they partner together in reaching the world in the name of Jesus Christ. <br><br> Every cooperating Florida Baptist church is making a significant impact with the Gospel through its support of the Cooperative Program, said John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Cooperative Program Resources available for your Cooperative Program Sunday celebration: Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PETTUS, TEXUS (STCH)—After more than a six month search, Eron Green of Florida Baptist Children’s Homes has been named the new president and CEO of South Texas Children’s Home Ministries, effective May 1, 2012. The position became available in July 2011 after then president Todd Roberson was named president of Children At Heart Ministries in Round Rock, Texas. Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Mississippi, Utah and Alabama are the most religious states and Vermont and New Hampshire the least religious, according to a Gallup survey that asked respondents about their religion and their church attendance. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—A lone U.S. soldier accused in a shooting rampage that killed 16 Afghan civilians near Kandahar in March is prompting Southern Baptist workers in Central Asia to ask American Christians to pray for peace. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—SBC President Bryant Wright has named the members of the Committee on Resolutions who will serve during the June 19-20 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans. <br><br> Wright, pastor of the Atlanta-area Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, appointed the committee in keeping with the provision in SBC Bylaw 20 that its members be named 75 days prior to the start of the annual meeting. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 CLEARWATER (FBW)—James Wayne Lancaster Sr., 76, minister to senior adults at Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, died March 31. He had served on the staff of Calvary Baptist since 1998. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—A new book series to help collegians integrate faith and scholarship will make its debut in April. <br><br> In Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition: A Guide for Students, published by Crossway, Union University President David S. Dockery and other Christian leaders aim to demonstrate that vibrant, world-changing Christianity is not anti-intellectual but assumes a long tradition of vigorous Christian thinking and a commitment to the integration of faith and scholarship. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—At a recent Winter Jam concert, a girl approached evangelist Nick Hall in response to the message he had just delivered and held out her fist. She wanted to give him a necklace she had been wearing for three years. Attached to the necklace was a razor blade. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Michael Kelley took his then-2-year-old son Joshua to a pediatrician’s office in 2006 to determine the cause of an abdominal rash. Kelley wasn’t nervous, thinking a simple skin cream could remedy the problem. <br><br> The pediatrician ordered a blood test and Joshua played with toy trucks while waiting for the results. Soon the pediatrician declared the cause: leukemia. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 SHAWNEE, Okla. (BP)—Oklahoma Baptist University freshman Iván Maciuniak, a member of OBU’s varsity swimming team, died March 9 in the 25-meter pool in the campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 BOSTON (BP)—Last week, the student senate at Northeastern University, in Boston, voted to end negotiations to bring fast-food chain Chick-fil-A to campus after students protested over the company’s affiliation with several Christian organizations the students say have an “anti-gay” agenda. <br><br> The Atlanta-based company, dogged for months by accusations of homophobia, insists it is “not anti-anybody” but instead simply wants to “graciously serve great food and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The Obama administration’s effort to defund the federal government’s only program promoting embryo adoption further demonstrates its abortion mindset, say pro-life advocates. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS), the North American Mission Board’s national evangelism initiative, has a new team leader, Ken Ellis. <br><br> “Ken is a strong leader and I am excited about this new role for him,” said Kevin Ezell, the mission board’s president. “NAMB’s commitment to GPS has never been stronger. In fact, our 2013 Find It Here New Testament distribution will put an additional $2.5 million in resources behind the GPS effort.” Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 While waiting in the checkout line, I examined the worn dollar bill in my hand. Someone had written “new in North Dakota” across the top. Since I was in Georgia, I began wondering where this dollar had been on its journey from North Dakota, and where it would go once I released it as a payment. <BR><BR> From the looks of some of the currency I’ve held, it’s obvious that their journeys have taken them on quite a few hearty adventures. In the same way, the money you place in the offering plate for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Missions is destined for a divine journey in service of God’s kingdom. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Southern Baptists continually pray for, participate in, and give generously to North American mission efforts. Read what some of the Week of Prayer missionaries have to say about the blessings that came from those gifts: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 CLOVIS, N.M. (NAMB)—Derek Osburn never set out to be a poster child for missional church staff members. He was minding his own business as a youth minister at Central Baptist Church in Clovis, N.M., when God broadened his horizons. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—The effectiveness of cell groups in reaching Hispanics, the need for quality discipleship materials in Spanish, and family pressures experienced by Hispanic believers were among the topics discussed at the first meeting of the Hispanic Advisory Council on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. <br><br> Facilitated by co-chairman Bob Sena of Atlanta, members discussed with Executive Committee President Frank S. Page ways in which God is moving among the first generation immigrant and native-born American Hispanic communities they represent—Mexican, Cuban, European, South American, Central American and Caribbean. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—An African American Advisory Council has been created to communicate the perspectives of black churches and their leaders to Southern Baptist Convention entity leaders, Executive Committee President Frank S. Page has announced. Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 HENRYVILLE, Ind. (BP)—“Forty percent of our community are uninsured, and it’s not because they’re bad people or even that they’re poor people,” said Toby Jenkins, pastor of First Baptist Church in Henryville, Ind., one of the towns hardest hit by the March 2 tornadoes that ripped across several states. Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WEST LIBERTY, Ky. (BP)—Kentucky Baptists are providing families affected by the March 2 tornado in West Liberty a nurturing place for their children during the day. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- Religious leaders and others opposed to the Obama Administration's policy requiring coverage of birth control — including abortion-inducing drugs — by religious hospitals, charities and insurance plans are organizing rallies across the United States for noon on March 23 to protest the policy. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—The World Leaders Group and Palm Beach Atlantic University have announced the addition of Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy to the lineup of speakers April 18-19 at the World Leaders Conference. Dungy joins 13 other renowned speakers including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cokie Roberts, James Blanchard, Ken Blanchard, Henry Cloud, Mark Floyd, Laurie Beth Jones, Craig Groeschel, Bill Hybels, Patrick Lencioni, Erwin McManus, Tom Mullins and Tim Sanders. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 VERO BEACH (FBW)—U.S. News & World report has listed the Florida Baptist Retirement Center, a facility affiliated with the Florida Baptist State Convention, as one of the “Best Nursing Homes in Florida.” Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TORONTO—If Liam McGibbon had been tumor-free, you might not be reading about his parents this week. They probably would have never made it to Hamilton, Ontario, and certainly not as miraculously. <br><br> For one, Jason and Kimberley McGibbon didn’t really imagine themselves as church planters. At least that’s what they’ll tell you. And two, they weren’t looking to leave their life in Milton, a suburb of Toronto where Jason served as worship leader at The Sanctuary Church Milton, and move to the other side of Lake Ontario. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 CINCINNATI—It’s just about dusk at Heritage Glen apartments in the Cincinnati, Ohio, suburb of Fairfield. As the sun drops from sight, the lower light begins to mask some of the harsher realities of this low-income apartment complex—including the dilapidated tennis court that’s populated with random cracks and missing a net, the overgrown grass, and the worn exterior paint job. A handful of volunteers from the Red Door, a Southern Baptist church plant in Cincinnati eagerly play with, laugh with and generally corral neighborhood kids. What better way to kick off the church’s fall plans than by doing what’s at the heart of what the church is all about? Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 FAIR OAKS, Ark. (BP)—While it seems a new spam or “phishing” attack occurs on social networking sites every week, a rural pastor is using Facebook to pray for people in the ministry. <br><br> About a year and a half ago, Al Brodbent was becoming frustrated with the amount of gossip, garbage and solicitation on Facebook. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—The 2012 edition of GuideStone’s annual Tax Return Preparation and Federal Reporting Guide is now available. Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBW)–Rosa Lee Franks, retired home missionary with the Baptist Goodwill Center in Miami, died Feb. 23 in Birmingham, Ala. She was 93. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TOHOKU, Japan (BP)—When Nobuko Tanno closes her eyes, she sees tsunami waves rushing in and destroying her village along Japan’s northeastern coastline. She sees cars floating and houses coming off foundations. She hears the roar of the water and desperate cries for help. <br><br> Her normally stoic face contorts a little with the flood of memories and she quickly opens her eyes. Remembering that fateful day one year ago, March 11, 2011, is still hard. She fixes her gaze on the odd-shaped frame on the white wall in her refurbished home. It immediately brings a smile and a contented sigh escapes. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JAPAN (BCF)—On March 11, 2011, a powerful 9.0 earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated over one fourth of the coastal regions of northeast Japan. Amidst the fear, pain and suffering, a group of students from The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville made a difference in the lives of many Japanese citizens as they joined efforts with several different relief organizations. Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Gov. Rick Scott appointed two Southern Baptists to the Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council Feb. 17, along with six other appointees and three re-appointees. <br><br> Spike Hogan, pastor of Chet’s Creek Church in Jacksonville, and Julie Boyd, vice president of development and communications at Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, were appointed by Scott, who also appointed his pastor, Kirt E. Anderson, pastor of Naples Community Church to the advisory council. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 MELROSE (FBW)—George Prom, pastor emeritus of Good News Baptist, a church which he founded in Jacksonville more than four decades ago, is offering churches a new song, “Sing, Ye People, Sing the News,” in time for Easter Sunday. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—In response to the “Imagine If… Great Commission Resurgence” task force recommendations, The Baptist College of Florida is seeking to identify the education level of ministers living in and/or serving in Florida Baptist churches. This is being done to provide future training and educational opportunities to Florida Baptists. If you fit into either of these categories, please take the time to complete the education survey by going to the following link and answering the information: http://www.baptistcollege.edu/survey Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—W. Thomas Hammond Jr. was approved as vice president for convention advancement during the Executive Committee’s Feb. 20-21 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Hammond comes to the Executive Committee from the North American Mission Board, where he served most recently as team leader for “GPS: God’s Plan for Sharing,” a national evangelism initiative. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Nearly 50 children from the Foundation Foyer des Enfants Demunies orphanage have been living in tents since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti two years ago. The orphanage, located in an area outside of Port-au-Prince called Bon Repos, was completely destroyed by the earthquake. Ron Gunter, vice president of Orphan’s Heart said that fortunately no one was hurt when the earthquake hit. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Editor's note: Following are selected tweets of Southern Baptists reacting to the SBC name change task force report. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The sanctuary of New Berlin Road Baptist Church in north Jacksonville was heavily damaged by a late evening fire March 1. Pastor Matthew Meadows told Florida Baptist Witness the blaze and loss are reminding him and his congregation of God’s provision and Christians’ generosity. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW YORK (BP)—A federal judge has handed New York City churches a major victory, issuing a preliminary injunction that will allow congregations to meet in schools while the lawsuit proceeds—that is, unless the city wins on appeal. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 SAN FRANCISCO (BP)—Bypassing the Supreme Court for the moment, supporters of California Prop 8 are appealing a ruling that went against them to the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)—Fearful members. Declining church attendance. Concerned pastors. Uncertain futures. Despite dramatic changes in the life of many Hispanic congregations in Alabama with the new immigration law, the news isn’t all bad. <br><br> “A lot of people left,” Carlos Gomez said of the Hispanic congregation he leads at First Baptist Church in Center Point. “I called them back and some of them returned. But I know of another ministry that is close to me here in town that had around 120, and now it has about 40.” Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Two major retailers, Target and Nordstrom, have been commended by pro-lifers and advocates for special needs children for featuring a model who was born with Down syndrome. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (FBW) -- In 1999, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee issued a report in response to two motions at the 1998 annual meeting requesting a study of the possibility of changing the name of the Convention. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 “We’ve done the Lecture Lab approach on several occasions,” said Setlzer, who has served nearly 14 years as senior pastor of the tan and red-tiled roofed church located on a palm tree-lined corner on the outskirts of California Baptist University. “Based on LifeWay’s Explore the Bible curriculum, we’ve gone through 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.” Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 More than 500 students, faculty members and guests from around the world attended the “Anabaptism and Contemporary Baptists” conference at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Warren joined prominent Anabaptist historian Abraham Friesen as a featured speaker. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Former minister of music Lee Turner and his wife, Diane, recently published two new octavos through their Jacksonville publishing company TurnerSong. The 30-year-old company has published about 250 songs written by the Turners and performed in churches and crusades across the world. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (BCF)—In January even the Sunshine State can be chilly. Add a damp drizzle and 20 mile per hour winds to the mix, and it can be downright cold. Stand at the base of the Pensacola Bay Bridge at dawn in those conditions, and the word “frigid” comes to mind. But even the extreme conditions could not dampen the spirit of 16 Baptist College of Florida students working with a new church start in the Pensacola area. <BR><BR> Each January, BCF and the Florida Baptist Convention partner together to sponsor a church planting practicum somewhere in the state. This year, the hands-on opportunity took them to the Gulf Breeze area of the Panhandle to assist pastor Gabriel Vargas with Iglesia Mision Casa, a Hispanic congregation meeting on the campus of the city’s First Baptist Church. “There are approximately 7,000 Hispanics living between Navarre and Pensacola,” Pastor Vargas noted. “And they need a church to call their own.” Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—One-day South Florida Bible Study Summits, with the theme “Total Life, Love your Neighbor, Share Christ,” will be held March 3 in three languages and at the following five locations across South Florida: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention by David E. Crosby, pastor of First Baptist Church in New Orleans. <br><br> “Fred has been among Southern Baptists for more than 20 years as a pastor. He has taken a church that was at death’s door to the largest worshipping congregation in the state of Louisiana among Southern Baptists,” Crosby said. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (BP)—The pastor who became nationally known on the ABC TV show “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” found a passion for physical stewardship from real-life experiences. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (BP)—“Send North America” is the strategic plan to reverse the Southern Baptist Convention’s trend of losing ground in the planting of new congregations, North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell told trustees during their Feb. 8 meeting in Miami. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NORWICH, Conn. (NAMB)—No one understands doing whatever it takes to reach people for Christ better than Shaun Pillay. Born and raised in South Africa, he and his wife, Deshni, arrived in the United States in 2007 as newlyweds. Having sold their Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—During the State Board of Missions meeting, Feb. 9, the Board received a status report on how the Florida Baptist Convention is implementing 27 recommendations developed by six special workgroups of the Board in response to six proposals made by the State Convention-sanction “Imagine If ... Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention’s benefits entity has joined the growing chorus of evangelical and Roman Catholic voices publicly protesting the Obama administration’s mandate that health insurance plans cover contraceptives, including ones that can cause abortions. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources voted to continue selling the new NIV Bible in LifeWay stores, approved a new vice president for its largest division and elected new board officers. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 SAN FRANCISCO (BP)—A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California’s Proposition 8, handing gay groups a big win while avoiding the larger question of whether the U.S. Constitution guarantees gays nationwide the right to “marry.” Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 EDITOR'S NOTE: Jimmy Draper, chairman of the task force that studied the question of changing the name of the Southern Baptist Convention, presented the following report to the SBC Executive Committee during its Monday night (Feb. 20) meeting. The task force was named by SBC President Bryant Wright last September. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—When a crowd gathered in the lobby of the Southern Baptist Convention building to watch the baptisms of four children, it was a teaching moment for some in the urban community who were not familiar with one of Baptists’ foundational experiences. <BR><BR> Mosaic Nashville is an eight-year-old church plant that has been meeting in the downtown SBC building for about two years. The children’s baptisms in December were the first the congregation had done in the building. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 AURORA, Ill. (BP)—Bishop T.D. Jakes says he has moved away from a “Oneness” view of the Godhead to embrace an orthodox definition of the Trinity—and that some in the Oneness Pentecostal movement now consider him a heretic. <BR><BR> Jakes—long a controversial figure among evangelicals because of his past unwillingness to affirm the Trinity—stated his belief Jan. 27 at the second-annual Elephant Room (theelephantroom.com), an event that brings together Christian figures from different backgrounds for what organizers call “conversations you never thought you’d hear.” This year’s Elephant Room was held at Harvest Bible Chapel in Illinois and was simulcast to other locations nationwide. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 CINCINNATI (BP)—A federal appeals court has delivered at least a temporary victory for religious freedom and free speech in the confrontation between Christian counseling students and university programs that affirm homosexuality. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 The annual Week of Prayer for North American Missions is March 4-11, 2012. This year, five missionaries representing thousands of missionaries serving throughout the United States, Canada, and their territories are spotlighted. The other three days focus on ways Southern Baptists are reaching the lost in North America. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PLANT CITY (FBC)—Archery, hunting and fishing skills; motorcycles, monster trucks and collectable cars will be displayed and demonstrated during the “Iron Sharpens Iron” Men’s Rally, Sat., March 24 at the Plant City Strawberry Festival Expo Pavilion. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW)—As the Legislature moves towards its half-way point in the 60-day session, a controversial bill to permit three “destination resort” casinos appears to be dead after failing to get a vote in a House committee Feb. 3. <br><br> Meanwhile, Bill Bunkley, president of Florida Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, surveyed other legislation pending before the Legislature in a Feb. 3 interview with Florida Baptist Witness. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW) – Voters in two north Florida counties approved measures Jan. 31 that may allow slot machine permits at pari-mutuel facilities in the counties. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—The 2012 Compensation Survey of ministers and staff at Southern Baptist churches is underway at www.guidestone.org/CompensationSurvey. The deadline for completion is May 31. <BR><BR> Each completed survey helps participating churches obtain an accurate baseline of data regarding compensation among similar-sized churches in their state convention. The survey data can provide customized reports to administrators, personnel/finance committees and minister search teams to help them better determine adequate compensation for ministers and staff. According to survey organizers, a higher number of survey participants leads to a more accurate baseline of compensation. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—Union University and LifeWay Christian Resources have released the “Reading God’s Story Audio Bible,” a recording of the entire Bible by 38 members of the Union faculty and staff. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Pastors overwhelmingly believe that God did not use evolution to create humans and think Adam and Eve were literal people, according to a survey by LifeWay Research. <br><br> The survey of 1,000 American Protestant pastors, released Jan. 9, also found that ministers are almost evenly split on whether the earth is thousands of years old. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—For the first time in more than a decade, LifeWay Christian Resources is releasing a new ongoing Bible study series for children, students and adults under one theme. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)-Marcus (Marc) Greene, minister of music of East Brent Baptist Church in Pensacola, died suddenly Jan. 30. He was 58. Agraduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he was a member of theFlorida Worship Choir and served Pensacola Baptist Association as music director. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC)—The number is staggering—3,800 people groups in the world are considered unengaged and unreached—unaware of the name of Jesus and His offer of eternal life. <BR><BR> Through the International Mission Board’s “Embrace” initiative, Florida Baptists are in a distinct position to make a difference in the world knowing Jesus, said Florida Baptist mission specialist Dennis Wilbanks. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Much like Peter’s rooftop vision experience, author and evangelist Dennis Pethers says a clearer understanding of God’s vision for a city and people can be found from a rooftop overview. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—In a landmark decision for churches, the U.S. Supreme Court has for the first time ruled that a “ministerial exception” allows congregations and religious groups to hire and fire ministers free of federal employment discrimination laws. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—U.S. Supreme Court justices challenged lawyers for major networks Tuesday to explain why the federal government should not be able to establish a “safe haven” from nudity and obscene language on television. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—With the eyes of the world watching the U.S. presidential campaign, R. Albert Mohler, president of one of the world’s largest seminaries, reminds Christians to keep it all in perspective. <BR><BR> It is easy to become cynical and believe it does not matter who is president, Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said Jan. 11 at Palm Beach Atlantic University during the chapel hour. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Celebrating a group with a history of amazing worship and praise music, Baptist College of Florida in Graceville hosted TRUTH’s 40th Anniversary Tour in the BCF Assembly Center Jan. 23. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PALMETTO (FBW)—Betty Lou Glassburn, a longtime member of Dry Prairie Baptist Church in Duette, was recently honored as the 2012 Manatee County Distinguished Citizen. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Herbert Goodroe, 90, former director of missions in Gadsden County Baptist Association, died Jan. 17 in Ocala. He served as pastor of Florida churches more than 50 years, and also was active in pioneer missions in North and South Dakota. After his retirement in Ocala, he preached in more than 30 churches until the age of 85. Goodroe served in the U.S. Army during WWII in the South Pacific and in occupied Japan. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Joe Choate, associate pastor of preaching and teaching at First Baptist Church in Palmetto, died Jan. 15 of leukemia. He was 63. A graduate of University of South Florida and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he had served First Baptist since 2000. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Jimmie Morris Abernathy, followed her husband, D. J. Abernathy, former Florida Baptist lobbyist and longtime pastor, in death Jan. 18. He died April 20, 2011. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (BP)—Tim Tebow’s riveting and tumultuous season ended Jan. 14, with the New England Patriots hammering the Denver Broncos 45-10 in an AFC divisional playoff game. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 POMPANO BEACH (FBW)-Raymonde Dumornay, wife of Pastor Jacques Dumornay of First Haitian Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, died Jan. 22. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW) – Although glamorous destination resort casinos have been the focus of the Legislature for months, legislation addressing so-called “storefront casinos” took center stage in the second week of the session – and may be a chip used in negotiations later in the session, according to Florida Baptist lobbyist Bill Bunkley. Meanwhile, bills relating to abortion, human trafficking and assisted-living facilities are at various stages of consideration. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (BP)—Counseling student Jennifer Keeton will not be returning to Augusta State University while she fights against the school’s attempt to make her complete a remediation plan designed to change her views on homosexuality. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- The U.S. Department of Justice has cleared the way for states to generate revenue through online gambling, including lotteries, poker and other games that do not involve sports. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 BEIJING (BP)—Beijing authorities detained 48 members of a large persecuted house church on New Year’s Day, marking a total of more than 1,000 church members who have been taken into police custody during the church’s 38 weeks of attempting to hold outdoor worship services. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 MANILA, Philippines (BP)—The plight of people who survived a Dec. 17 typhoon in the Philippines has been worsened in 14 provinces by heavy rains that have caused new flooding. Southern Baptists are helping to provide assistance in the aftermath of the storm, which killed about 1,250 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary set a fall graduation record as 244 graduates received degrees on Dec. 17—66 more than the previous fall record set in 2003. And at least six of those graduating have Florida ties. <BR><BR> NOBTS President Chuck Kelley started his commencement address by congratulating the graduates for completing an intense course of study. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS)—three students claiming Florida as their home state graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth during the fall commencement Dec. 16, 2011. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)—Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s first full commencement in December was highlighted by two “firsts.” Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 WAKE FOREST, N.C. (SEBTS)—On Dec. 16, 132 students graduated from Southeastern—25 graduates from the College at Southeastern, 82 students in the Seminary, 11 from the Master of Theology program, and 14 in the program of doctoral studies. Eight of those graduating have Florida ties. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE (SBTS)–The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrates the graduation of the Fall 2011 class. On behalf of the seminary’s board of trustees, President R. Albert Mohler Jr. presented degrees to 196 students at the Dec. 9 graduation. The graduating class was made up of students earning diplomas, master’s and doctoral degrees. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 The initial recommendation and request for the special day of prayer from BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen to the board of trustees, and then to the Florida Baptist State Convention, stated that Baptists are a praying people. <br><br> “We pray for our personal needs, our families, our churches, our denomination, our country and on through an unending list of concerns. Prayer makes a difference in the lives of those who are praying, and in the lives of those who are fortunate enough to be the objects of the prayers of God’s people,” the recommendation reads. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—A young woman got out of a van in the parking lot and began a slow but determined walk to the doors of the Planned Parenthood clinic in East Orlando. She already had two small children, and her husband had just lost his job. <BR><BR> In light of their circumstances, they felt there was no other option except to terminate the pregnancy. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBCH)—Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is the keynote speaker Jan. 21 at the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes’ Sanctity of Human Life rally in Miami. The rally will be held on the Miami campus of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes at 3 p.m. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Following is a partial listing of Florida events being held to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand. For more information, see www.marchforlife.org. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Americans are struggling to determine how faith, Christianity and church fit into modern life, The Barna Group said in its reflection on six top trends of 2011. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BGR)—Smiling through her tears, Madam Maris thanks and kisses the Southern Baptist volunteers as they handed her the keys to her new home. <br><br> For nearly two years, the 70-year-old Haitian woman has lived in a tent. She’d lost her husband, two nephews, her arm and her home in the earthquake that decimated the Haitian city of Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, 2010. Now, she and her niece finally have a chance to start over. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Guinell Freeman, retired director of education at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, died Dec. 19. She served First Baptist Church 45 years, retiring in June 1999. <br><br>Also in 1999, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, honored her as a “distinguished alumni.” She served as adjunct professor at her alma mater, and emphasized “using Sunday School effectively,” according to a 1999 SWBTS news release. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Although they occur like clockwork every semester, graduations at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville are welcomed with jubilation and excitement from each graduating class. December 9 was no different as degrees were conferred on 50 seniors in the assembly center. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Todd Unzicker, a senior at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, was selected as the fall semester winner of the Excellence in Preaching Award presented by BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen and his wife, Ruth Ann. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—“Lead by example,” Palm Beach Atlantic University’s overall theme for this academic year, was also the challenge that commencement speaker Ken Mahanes issued to the fall 2011 graduating class on Saturday. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Ben Starling III of Singer Island was honored with the Alumnus Service Award by Palm Beach Atlantic University at Homecoming Nov. 19. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Though classes will not be in session and the temptation is great to be otherwise engaged, many University students will, as they have since 2001, make Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 16 a “day on, not a day off” by volunteering their time to serve the community. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Jennifer Kirby, a graduating senior who is majoring in dance and minoring in communications, recently performed a solo dance that she choreographed which illustrates the Fibonacci Sequence. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary opened its new 3,500-seat chapel with a daylong celebration Dec. 1, including a ribbon-cutting, dedication chapel service, baptisms and a free Christmas concert. The J.W. MacGorman Chapel and Performing Arts Center is the largest venue of its kind in Fort Worth. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala.(LCR)—Fifteen hundred moms show up in a big room with no infants, toddlers, ‘tweens or teens. What do they do? Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala.(LCR)—Jackie Kendall is a straight talker. She tells moms straight out, “Don’t let your daughter marry a Bozo!” Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—About 10 percent of youth ages 10-17 have participated in sending or receiving a sexually explicit or sexually suggestive picture of themselves or others electronically, according to a new survey that is the most detailed yet in examining the “sexting” habits of youth. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—A group of motorcycle riders rumbled onto the Lakeland campus of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes early one Saturday morning as they escorted a pickup truck piled high with boxes of diapers. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Each year thousands of college students embark on an internship in order to get real world experience in their field and to satisfy requirements for graduation. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBW)—Moving Forward, the Bible-teaching radio ministry of Stephen Rummage, senior pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, went nationwide on SIRIUS-XM Family Talk, channel 131 Nov. 14. The program airs 6- 6:30 a.m. (ET). Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LARGO (FBW)—Foster teens in Pinellas County can look forward to Christmas presents this year thanks to students at Indian Rocks Christian School (www.ircs.org) in Largo, which since 1999 has provided nearly $100,000 in “Angel Boxes” for this needy group that is often overlooked at holiday time. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—The street musician rolled a cigarette, scratched his head and squinted for a moment. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Construction is everywhere as the city of Hyderabad, India, rapidly expands to accommodate its population growth. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (BP)—The task force appoint­ed to study the possibility of changing the Southern Baptist Convention’s name has reached a decision that they believe “will please the Father and greatly strengthen our ability to reach more people with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—The majority of Americans have a favorable impression of Southern Baptists, according to a recent LifeWay Research study. However, 40 percent of respondents have an unfavorable view of the denomination, more than a third strongly assume an SBC church is not for them, and the negativity is higher among the unchurched. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP)—Evangelist Billy Graham was released from the hospital Dec. 6, six days after being admitted with pneumonia. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 STUART (FBW)-Lynda Lee Daniels, 63, a missionary to South America for 28 years with the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, died Dec. 15 at Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart. A member of First Baptist Church of Palm Beach Gardens, she is survived by her husband of 41 years, David Daniels, pastor of the church. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The Love Dare, a devotional book for couples based on biblical themes from the movie “Fireproof,” continues to be a bestseller three years after the film opened. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALBANY, Ga. (BP)—The film “Courageous,” still enjoying a successful run in theaters, will be released on DVD Jan. 17. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Paul Bobbitt, who served as director of the Church Music Department from 1970-1993, died Dec. 14, at 1 p.m. in Asheville, N.C. from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 83. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SALT LAKE CITY (BP)—With the goal of keeping roadside crosses in place in the face of a federal court order, the Utah Highway Patrol Association has removed the state’s highway patrol logo from more than a dozen crosses statewide—and reiterated its stance that the crosses are not state-sponsored. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MONTICELLO, Ind. (BP)—The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana marked two key events in less than a month—convening their 53rd annual meeting and welcoming Cecil Seagle as the SBCI’s sixth executive director. <BR><BR> Messengers to the Oct. 7-8 meeting, held in the new facility of Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Monticello, approved a 2012 budget of $4.33 million. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—If the North American Mission Board’s Send North America evangelistic church planting initiative is to succeed, it must include thousands of bivocational pastors who are willing to plant churches. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TOKYO (BP)—As the sun rises over Japan, millions rise early to head to work. An intricate system of commuter trains and subways moves countless men and women from the comfort of their homes to a Tokyo skyscraper or a Nagoya factory. Together, Tokyo and Nagoya represent the business and manufacturing facets of the country’s robust economy, the world’s third largest. <br><br> Hisaya Kazu, 62, also rises early from his cardboard cocoon to go to work. By 3 a.m., Kazu is picking up aluminum cans and other debris in Sakae Park in Nagoya. He cashes in the aluminum for enough yen to buy his meals for the day. As daybreaks and Nagoya wakes, Kazu, who is homeless, finds a place to hide, away from public view. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—A few days before Tom Elliff’s inauguration as the 11th leader of IMB (the International Mission Board), three bite-size packages of Butterfinger chocolate appear on a table at the entrance of his office. <br><br> Elliff offers one to a visitor, pops another in his mouth. His eyes crinkle at the edges as he savors the morsel—they are a favorite. Finally the grin that quickly became famous around the office when Elliff arrived seven months ago breaks across his face. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 HATTIESBURG, Miss. (BP)—God would never call you to missions, you insist. <BR><BR> You’re too damaged. Or too average. Too inexperienced. Too tired. Too young. Too old. Too busy getting through the day-to-day. That’s your story—despite the still, small voice that keeps speaking to your heart. Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP)—Evangelist Billy Graham was released from the hospital Dec. 6, six days after being admitted with pneumonia. Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Impact your community, your nation and the world this January by leading your church to join with thousands of others across the Southern Baptist Convention in united prayer for spiritual awakening. Use the prayer prompt, video, prayer cards and other resources on this page to plan your church's participation. (SOURCE: NAMB.net/sbccalltoprayer) Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC)— Florida Baptist Theological Education, working in partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and The Baptist College of Florida, has released its course schedule for the 2012 spring term. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Nine in 10 pastors plan for their churches to host Christmas Day services this year. <br><br> A LifeWay Research study of 1,000 Protestant pastors shows that 91 percent of Protestant pastors plan to have services on Christmas Day while 69 percent said they plan to host Christmas Eve services. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–On Sundays, Baptist church schedules are mostly predictable. However, when Sunday is also Christmas Day, it may be best to double check before heading to church for Sunday School and worship services. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville will hold commencement exercises Friday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. for the 50 seniors who have completed all of the requirements to earn their degrees. For graduates, the commencement exercise is a major symbol of the culmination of sacrifice, hard work, determination, and many long hours of study. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—There were over 1,000 people at The Baptist College of Florida’s annual Holiday Heritage Festival Nov. 18 as hearts were warmed ushering in the Christmas season. Guests were bundled together as they strolled through Heritage Village admiring the decorations and the old-fashioned surroundings. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RIO DE JANEIRO (BP)—His greatest fear: One day, he will go out to share the Gospel and not come back. <br><br> IMB missionary Eric Reese serves on one of the most dangerous mission fields in South America—the gang-controlled favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Additions to the Graceville campus of The Baptist College of Florida always make for an exciting time in the life of the institution. That tradition continued Nov. 3, as the Gardner Center for Music and Worship was officially opened at the 10:15 a.m. dedication ceremony honoring the man for which it is named, Milton Gardner. <BR><BR> It was picture perfect weather as the College Winds, under the direction of Professor Ron Branning, opened the ceremony with “Hosanna, Praise is Rising.” BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen welcomed those gathered immediately followed by the Winds performing “How Deep the Father’s Love.” Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHILADELPHIA (BP)—Philadelphia, the nation’s temporary capital in the 1790s while Washington, D.C., was being built, drips with American history. <BR><BR> Tree-lined streets downtown lead tourists past Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Museum, Betsy Ross’ home and the grave of one of Philadelphia’s most famous sons, Benjamin Franklin. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CORAL&#8200;SPRINGS (FBC)—Messengers to the Florida Baptist State Convention meeting at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs Nov. 15 approved the following nominations to its committees, agencies, and boards. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Jacksonville (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention and Pastors’ Conference held at the Church by the Glades in Coral Springs are available as free audio and/or video downloads from the Convention’s website, www.flbaptist.org. DVDs can be ordered and will be mailed. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 KARACHI, Pakistan (BP)—Aadam Channar* was only a young boy quietly listening in the shadows when Baptist missionary Hu Addleton first brought the Gospel to his Hindu tribal village in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Jerusalem (IMB)—As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the last time, He wept. He thought about the people within its walls and said, “If you had only known on this day what would bring you peace.” He knew within hours He’d be crucified by the very people for whom He wept. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (BP)—U. S. Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Kevin Humphrey’s last quarterly report to the North American Mission Board’s chaplaincy group in Alpharetta, Ga., reads like the script of a Hollywood blockbuster. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—“A Day of Thanks” to express gratitude to God for protection during the 2011 hurricane season has been called for Florida Baptist churches, Sunday, Nov. 27. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 14-15 at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, will be available both during the meetings and following the event. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Paula Hemphill’s job was to look at cells through a microscope and help diagnose cancer. She never imagined she would one day be on the other side of the microscope as a patient. <BR><BR> She and her husband Ken were enjoying busy careers when their lives were turned upside down in 2006—Paula began experiencing a painful mass in her right breast. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALBANY, N.Y. (BP)—A pair of books based on biblical themes from the movie “Courageous” has made The New York Times’ bestseller list. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Pensacola News Journal editorial cartoonist on casino bills in Florida Legislature Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Teens exposed to profanity in television and video games are more likely to use profanity and also to exhibit physically aggressive behavior, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW)—The Florida Baptist Convention and other religious and anti-gambling groups said Nov. 1 they are launching an aggressive lobbying campaign to convince the Legislature to reject a plan to allow massive luxury casinos in two South Florida counties. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF)—A proposal to permit students to pray or deliver “inspirational messages” at school events was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday, over strong objections from liberal interest groups. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MONTICELLO, Ind. (BP) -- The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana marked two key events in less than a month -- convening their 53rd annual meeting and welcoming Cecil Seagle as the SBCI's sixth executive director. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 EUROPE (IMB)—Many Afghan families, desperate for a better life, pay fortunes to a highly developed network of smugglers who help them escape difficult situations. Often they send their children alone to freedom before the rest of the family can follow. <br><br> A quick scan of a refugee center in southern Europe tells the story. The ratio of children to adults is about 11-to-1. A toddler wrestles with his mom, hoping to win the pencil she is using to take notes during a language class. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LONDON (BP)—Descend into the extensive London underground transport system and only station names on tiled walls tell what lies above ground. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)–The Baptist College of Florida prepares men and women vocationally to serve in multiple areas of ministry and occupations while providing a solid education steeped in sound theology and doctrine. Depending on the career path, many times after graduation, students feel led to continue their education by pursuing a graduate degree or studying at one of the seminaries. <br><br> BCF recognizes and supports that decision by opening the Graceville campus to representatives from all of the Southern Baptist seminaries for the annual Seminary Day. This fall, that day is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 beginning at 8 a.m. Dean of Students Roger Richards is coordinating the event which allows BCF students to collectively compare graduate programs without spending time and money traveling to the individual campuses. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The annual Holiday Heritage Festival, which kicks off the area holiday season, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, beginning at 12 p.m. in picturesque Heritage Village. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Palm Beach Atlantic University will present its American Free Enterprise Medal to H. Wayne Huizenga, Jr., president of Huizenga Holdings, Inc., a diversified company that manages the Huizenga family owned private businesses and real estate. He also is chairman of the board of Rybovich, a super yacht marina and refit facility based in West Palm Beach. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—The 2011 graduating class of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s School of Nursing has achieved a 97 percent pass rate on its first attempt at the national licensing examination, according to Dean Joanne Masella. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (BP)—The baptism of a new believer offered a tangible reminder of the purpose for a North American Mission Board missionary commissioning service at North Metro Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHILADELPHIA (BP)—A goal of 55,901 Southern Baptist congregations by the end of 2020 has been set by North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell as part of the Send North America strategy NAMB is implementing in evangelistic church planting. The goal would mean a net gain of 5,112 SBC congregations in less than a decade—more gained than in any decade since 1900. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—The task force appointed to study the prospect of changing the Southern Baptist Convention’s name held its first meeting Oct. 26 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. <br><br> Convention President Bryant Wright announced the 20-member task force during the opening session of the SBC Executive Committee’s Sept. 19-20 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. The announcement prompted a lively debate across the convention about the pros and cons of making such a change. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 State Board of Missions’ Special Workgroup #1: Responses to the Imagine If ... Great Commission Resurgence Taskforce’s Recommendations on “Call to Repentance and Spiritual Renewal” Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 14-15 at Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, will be available both during the meetings and following the event. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CORAL SPRINGS (FBC)—As they serve on the front lines of war, natural ’disasters and economic downturns, Florida Baptist chaplains will explore “Finding Peace in the midst of the Storm!” during the 2011 Annual Chaplain’s Conference, Monday, Nov. 14 at Parkridge Baptist Church in Coral Springs. The meeting is in conjunction with the Florida Baptist State Convention. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CORAL SPRINGS (FBW)—Alumni and friends of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will meet in conjunction with the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 15 at noon at nearby Parkridge Baptist Church in Coral Springs for a luncheon. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Each fall, many of Florida’s nearly 3,000 Southern Baptist churches affectionately turn their attention to “Lottie”—a seasonal figure who causes people to reach deep into their pockets to fund a massive worldwide effort to take the Gospel to the spiritually lost. <br><br> Lottie is a reference to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions—an offering collected for the sole purpose of supporting Southern Baptists’ 5,000 missionaries serving around the world through the International Mission Board. This year’s offering theme, “His heart, His Hands, His voice—I am Southern Baptist Missions,” is focused on raising $175 million. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 If you are a follower of Jesus, you are part of the task to fulfill the Great Commission. <br><br> Paul says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus has commissioned us to be His heart, His hands, His voice. Through praying, giving, and going, Southern Baptists have fulfilled this legacy for more than 160 years. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT LAUDERDALE (FBC)—This year’s “Crossover South Florida” will take place in 14 venues across three counties and in more than six languages to reach diverse South Florida communities, where an estimated 95 percent of population do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SKOPJE, Macedonia (BP)—A few months after Gef Smock was born in Michigan in 1933, she spoke her first words—in the Macedonian language. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS)—Rick Warren, one of the world’s most renowned pastors, will join prominent Anabaptist historian Abraham Friesen as a featured speaker during Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Anabaptist Conference, Jan. 30-31, 2012. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TEHRAN (BP)—A jailed Iranian pastor who could be put to death for his faith has been given Islamic literature and been asked to read it—a move potentially meant to trap him into a blasphemy conviction. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Abortions in Arizona dropped by nearly one-third in September after a pro-life law went into effect. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The 40 Days for Life campaign had received reports of 229 unborn children saved Oct. 17, the halfway point of this fall’s effort. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, signed a ban on partial-birth abortion into law Oct. 11, according to The Holland (Mich.) Sentinel. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (LCR)—For the unenlightened Bible shopper going into a LifeWay Christian Store to select a Bible, it is a bit like going to a Walmart superstore to pick a box of cereal—with the huge selection, where do you even start? <BR><BR> A few years ago, you’d just go to the store, ask for “a Bible,” and they’d hand you a copy of the King James Version (KJV)—for centuries “the Bible” for English-speaking audiences. But the last few decades have produced many Bible translations. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—While hundreds of Bible studies have been published for the student market, Boyce College freshman Luke Harper is not shy in saying the study he wrote with his father Harold has a unique angle: It was written by a student. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Few students can say they graduated from high school as a published author. Most students cringe when their teachers assign their class an extended writing project. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SOUTHEAST ASIA (IWC)—Sometimes, people don’t need tracts or literature to share the Gospel. Sometimes, God designs their bodies as living, breathing ministry tools. <BR><BR> During a mission trip to Southeast Asia with International World Changers, Aaron Powell, Bradfordville First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, walked into a mall bathroom and a Saudi Arabian man tapped him on the shoulder. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SOUTHEAST ASIA (IWC) — A teenage girl gazed at the little boy in her lap. He had legs as thin as sticks, and he had not yet learned to communicate. He was 10 years old. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (NAMB)—The North American Mission Board’s Evangelism Response Center (ERC) recently named Jerry A. Passmore as “Regional Facilitator of the Year” for his work in recruiting and training 300 volunteers for the center. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The current tax deduction for charitable giving is under attack, and the services provided by churches and other institutions could suffer, U.S. senators were warned Oct. 18. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes recently recognized the top giving churches to its annual Mother’s Day Offering. In addition, it also recognized top churches in per capita giving along with the top associations with the largest amount of giving by the churches in their area. <BR><BR> Each year the Children’s Homes conducts its Mother’s Day Offering campaign to raise funds for their ministry of caring for abused, neglected, and orphaned children. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—As the 2011 trustees gathered at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville to conduct business, it was evident their approval of the direction of the college mirrored their strong support and love for BCF’s visionary president, Thomas A. Kinchen, according to a news release dated Oct. 12. Sentiment was echoed throughout the meeting and from every committee of the tremendous leadership abilities of Kinchen and the love he pours into the college, community, and the local church. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LONGWOOD (FBC)—Joel Breidenbaugh, author of Preaching for Body Building and senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Longwood, will lead a conference based on his book by the same name Nov. 8 in Orlando. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 22 new churches in September 2011. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BONIFAY (FBW)—It is “unacceptable” that there are currently 3,800 people groups in the world with little to no access to the Gospel when Southern Baptists alone have 44,000 churches with about 17 million members, Tom Elliff told Holmes Baptist Association during its Oct. 15 annual meeting held at First Baptist Church in Bonifay. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (FBC)—While she was enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee and through a series of circumstances, Rosnisay Keo felt God was in pursuit of her life. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Marriage, pornography, homosexuality, same-sex “marriage,” abortion and sex-trafficking are a few of the topics that pastor and author David Platt will discuss during the next Secret Church simulcast on Friday, Nov. 4. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 This list compiled from sources provided by the Assyrian International News Agency and news sources that document the violence against Christians in Iraq. <br><br> Seventy churches have been attacked or bombed since June, 2004: 43 in Baghdad, 19 in Mosul, 7 in Kirkuk and 1 in Ramadi. The following is a list of the bombings. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Not one Christian church building is left standing in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. State Department. The last such public place of Christian worship was destroyed by its landowner in March 2010. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—How far do you have to travel to find some of the most spiritually lost people groups in the world? <BR><BR> An hour by subway, tops. Maybe just a five-minute walk. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Since winning Fox’s MasterChef contest last year, Whitney Miller has been sharing her love of food with her first cookbook, but new recipes and satisfied taste buds aren’t all this southerner wants to spread. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Members of a Hispanic Advisory Council have been named to work in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, North American Mission Board and other SBC entities toward “more fully integrating Hispanic Baptist churches into the total fabric of Southern Baptist life and ministry.” <BR><BR> The 18-member advisory council will be co-chaired by Daniel Sanchez and Bob Sena. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Oct. 5 in a case that could have a serious impact on what the definition of a minister is and who has defining rights. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The rights of churches and other religious organizations to determine their leaders and teachers is protected from government interference by the U.S. Constitution, two Southern Baptist entities said in a brief for a case argued Oct. 5 before the Supreme Court. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—In speaking to students at Palm Beach Atlantic University in a chapel service Oct. 12, David Uth, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando and president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, said he challenges his congregation to act on its faith, not just proclaim it. <br><br> “Faith is not what you say. If saying something is all that it is, it would have had impact,” Uth said. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 OKEECHOBEE (FBC)—Mission stops featuring International and North American missionaries and volunteers await boys and girls in grades 1-6 and their leaders at the Xtreme Missions “Tekki Trek,” Nov. 5 at Oak­view Baptist Church in Okeechobee. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 10 new churches in August 2011. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 First Baptist Church in Merritt Island hosted an 80th birthday celebration on Oct. 16 honoring the life and legacy of Adrian Rogers, its former pastor who went on to become pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW)—While two South Florida lawmakers are poised to introduce a bill to allow Las Vegas-style casinos in Florida after a similar push failed earlier this year, growing opposition, especially from business leaders, is beginning to organize against expanded gambling. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Comments about Mitt Romney and Mormonism by prominent Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress have reignited a debate within evangelicalism about whether Christians should vote for a Mormon for president. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CAIRO (BP)—It’s ugly for Christians in Cairo right now, deeply unsettling even to those who have weathered the ups and downs of the Arab Spring, said Hal Greaves*. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RIDGECREST, N.C. (LCR)—Going from sunup to way past dark is just how it is at Black Church Week. The praising, preaching and fellowship never stop. <BR><BR> The Black Church Leadership and Family Conference (better known as Black Church Week) welcomed almost 1,000 people to the campus of LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center July 18-22. The black church area of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention sponsored the event. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—If believers allow modern science to tell them what they can theologically affirm, the logic does not end with a discussion of whether there is a historical Adam, R. Albert Mohler Jr. said on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” Sept. 22. <br><br> “It continues throughout the entirety of the body of Christian truth. And that is a disastrous route,” Mohler said. “And frankly, you’re either going to accept that the Bible gives us the authoritative word concerning the entirety of our understanding of things relative to who we are as human beings, what God did in creating the world and what God did for us in Christ. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS)—­Long before Betty Friedan’s 1963 book The Feminine Mystique calledinto the question the value of motherhood and homemaking in the lives of women, a full-scale assault on the nature of gender definitions and roles was launched in a garden. The assailant: sin. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—Protestant pastors overwhelmingly agree government should not attempt to regulate pastor’s sermons through reevaluation of a church’s tax exemption, according to a new survey by LifeWay Research. <BR><BR> The research, which was sponsored by the Alliance Defense Fund, followed a related study conducted by LifeWay in October 2010 that found Protestant pastors also largely believe candidates for public office should not be endorsed from the pulpit. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 EDITOR’S NOTE: October is Cooperative Program Emphasis Month in the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. Florida Baptists have launched, “Quarterback Churches,” an effort to encourage greater support for Cooperative Program. For more information, see www.flbaptist.org/quarterbackchurch or this article package: http://on.gofbw.com/qYQuN0. <BR><BR> PHOENIX (BP)—Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, approached the annual meeting in June with two main objectives: to engage in conversation about the Cooperative Program and to express gratefulness for it. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A challenge for churches to adopt the “1% Challenge” in Cooperative Program received added impetus from the SBC Executive Committee during their Sept. 20-21 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. <br><br> The recommendation from the EC’s Cooperative Program subcommittee asked executive directors of the 42 Southern Baptist state conventions to “encourage their churches to give 1% more to the Cooperative Program in support of the Executive Committee president’s 1% Challenge, and in doing so, further enhance God’s work worldwide.” Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Helen Jo Robinson, 86, longtime Florida Baptist pastor’s wife, died July 14. She was preceded in death on May 3 by her husband, Burl Robinson, 85, who had served 47 years as pastor of Winston Baptist Church in Lakeland. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC/FBW) -- A series of inspiration and awareness meetings have been scheduled to bring pastors together to begin thinking, talking and praying about a renewed emphasis upon the Great Commission and the implications of personal spiritual development. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Florida Baptists will spread out across the area in advance of this year's Annual Meeting to reach Miami and the surrounding area for Jesus. Contact Jeff Hessinger, Director Personal Evangelism and Student Ministry&#8232; for the Florida Baptist Convention&#8232; at jeff.hessinger@flbaptist.org more information. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 The Florida Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting takes place November 14-15, 2011, in Coral Springs. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 David Hughes is the President of this year's Pastors Conference. His church will the conference this year and he has asked John Cross, Ken Whitten, Jeff Singletary, Jimmy Scroggins and others to come lead in a time of preaching and worship. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Primary facilities for related meetings taking place around the time of the Florida Baptist State Conention Annual Meeting are Church by the Glades and Marriott at Coral Springs. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Find out where to stay at a special rate during the FBSC Annual Meeting. The host site is the Church by the Glades at 400 Lakeview Drive, Coral Springs, next to Atlantic Blvd (Exit 8) and the toll road Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869). Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Nominations and appointments to state boards and committees have been announced by the Committee on Nominations in preparation for the Florida Baptist State Convention in Coral Springs, Nov. 14-15. Messengers to the convention will be asked to vote on the nominations, but the appointments are not subject to actions by the convention. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 The following recommendations, which are to be presented to the Florida Baptist State Convention, November 14-15, 2011, by the State Board of Missions, will require changes in the Bylaws of the state convention, and therefore must be published in Florida Baptist Witness 30 days in advance. Revisions to the Bylaws require a majority vote at one session. A Constitutional revision requires an affirmative vote by messengers at two consecutive State Convention meetings. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Social hostilities relating to religion or government restrictions on religion rose substantially for more than 2.2 billion people—nearly a third of the world’s total population—between 2006 and 2009, according to a new study released by Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—An Illinois appeals court has ruled a Planned Parenthood clinic was not obligated to tell a woman who later regretted her abortion that the procedure would take the life of a human being. <br><br> The woman, identified in the case as Mary Doe, had an abortion in 2004 at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago. She later filed suit against the clinic, alleging wrongful death of her unborn child, intentional infliction of emotional distress and malpractice, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—SBC annuals dating to 1845 now are available online in a searchable PDF format following a joint digitization project by the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives and Baylor University Central Libraries. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALBANY, Ga. (BP)—“Courageous,” the next film from the makers of “Fireproof,” is more than an excuse to eat movie theater popcorn—it is a challenge for both fathers and churches. <br><br> “It’s not just a two-hour diversion,” said Elizabeth Fields of Provident Films, the movie’s distributor. “It’s entertainment with a purpose.” Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has watched the upcoming film “Courageous,” and he wants other men to do so as well. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Book-Link, Inc. is currently collecting Bibles and Christian study materials to send to international Baptist schools and seminaries. Book-Link is an arm of Fellowship of Baptist Educators, an organization of teachers from public and private schools, and university and seminary professors. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC) -- Nancy H. Sullivan is resting comfortably in her Jacksonville home after returning from Shreveport., La. late Monday afternoon, Sept. 26, following two surgeries to insert three cardiac arterial stents. Mrs. Sullivan is the spouse of Florida Baptist Convention Executive Director-Treasurer John Sullivan. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CROSS CITY (FBW)—When the children of Scrub Creek Baptist Church in Cross City were challenged to raise funds for state missions, they decided to “hop” to the task. The group of nine recently collected more than $1,200 for the Maguire State Mission Offering in its first “Sock Hop for State Missions.” Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Palm Beach Atlantic University this fall is on track to surpass last year’s record for the number of new students enrolled. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—More than 2,000 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are engaged in an ongoing response across North America in a dozen states. In addition, volunteers remain involved in relief work in Japan and Haiti. Because of the unprecedented number of disasters this year, SBDR leaders in some regions are signaling a need for more trained volunteers and offering ongoing training opportunities. <br><br> In Florida, Fritz Wilson said volunteers have continued to be engaged in the Haiti rebuild with over 700 homes built to date. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Southern Baptist Disaster Relief coordinators are being forced to re-calibrate response plans for the Northeast because of a second round of flooding caused by heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee, which has forced the evacuation of as many as 120,000 residents in Pennsylvania and New York. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A PDF file developed by the Florida Baptist Convention to designate the Cooperative Program giving leaders for 2010 based on several different groups. Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SHREVEPORT, LA (FBC/FBW) -- Nancy Sullivan is recovering well after successful surgery to place two stents in her heart on Sept. 22, John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, reported to the State Board of Missions (SBOM) Sept. 23. Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Southern Baptists face a “red alert” crisis in their World Hunger Fund just as a massive drought/famine cycle threatens nearly 11 million people in the Horn of Africa. Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (BP)—The Republican presidential debate Wednesday that for the first time included Texas Gov. Rick Perry was largely devoid of questions on the major social issues, although viewers did get to hear the candidates discuss global warming and the death penalty. Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—A federal appeals court rejected two challenges to the 2010 health-care reform law Sept. 8 in another step toward what appears will be a Supreme Court ruling on the controversial measure. Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—When Tim Maynard arrived as pastor of North Florida’s Fruit Cove Baptist Church in 1993, he found a congregation significantly invested in missions giving, never missing an offering goal. <BR><BR> But it was a mission trip to Haiti, arranged by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Partnership Missions department, that changed his life—and the life of his congregation—forever, he said. Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (FBC)—Summer camp for Monica Allen is about more than singing songs, making friends and enjoying craft time. Summer camp, she said, is about answering God’s call to go into the world as a missionary and personally sharing the compassion of Christ. Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SHREVEPORT, LA (FBC) -- The attending cardiologist who has monitored Nancy Sullivan since inserting a cardiac arterial stent on Sunday morning, Sept. 18, has determined that a second artery has ninety percent blockage. As a result a second surgery is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 22, at approximately 8:30 a.m. (Central time), and a cardiac arterial stent will be installed. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT SMITH, ARK. (FBC) – Language missions pioneer Hubert Hurt died in the morning hours of Sept. 21, 2011 while in hospice care in Fort Smith, Ark. He was 86.<br><br> Hurt directed Florida’s language work from 1964 until his retirement in 1990, first under the appointment of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) from 1965 to-1974, residing in Miami; and then as an employee of the Florida Baptist Convention from 1974 until 1980; and from 1981 until his retirement. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright has announced the appointment of a presidential task force to study the prospect of changing the 166-year-old convention's name.<br><br>Wright, who was re-elected to a second one-year term during the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix this past June, said he believes the study will be helpful for two main reasons. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC) - Nancy H. Sullivan, spouse of Florida Baptist Convention Executive Director-Treasurer John Sullivan, underwent emergency cardiac surgery on Sunday, Sept. 18, in Shreveport, La. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CLEVELAND, Ga. (BP)—John Mark Caner, age 8, headed to Thailand with one goal in mind—to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially with Mr. Wii, a Buddhist monk. <BR><BR> John Mark joined his parents, Emir and Hana, and a 25-member team from Truett-McConnell College who traveled to Thailand on a July 6-25 mission trip. Emir Caner is president of the Baptist-affiliated college in Cleveland, Ga. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The offering at the 2011 SBC Pastors’ Conference reached nearly $200,000, or twice the announced $100,000 goal, an organizer of the event has announced. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The attorney for 65 chaplains—including 16 Southern Baptists—who claim the U.S. Navy discriminates against evangelicals believes a new statistical analysis buttresses their legal efforts, which have been in court for 12 years. Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—“Incredible!” is how Rich Elligson, assistant professor of missions at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, described his recent mission project to Brazil’s Amazon basin. <br><br> Elligson, a former missionary to Brazil, led a group of sixteen BCF students and several others to the Amazon as part of the school’s partnership with Amazon Vision Ministries. Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORANGE PARK (FBW)—Kirk Cameron, recently known for his role in “Fireproof,” but best-known for his 1980s television show “Growing Pains,” talked about strong marriages in his “Love Worth Fighting For,” seminar at two Florida Baptist churches in July. Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)—This summer’s Sunday School Leadership Conference likely was “the largest Sunday School weekend ever in our history,” said Bruce Raley, director of leadership and evangelism at LifeWay Christian Resources. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Two one-day conferences designed to transform and enrich congregations through Sunday school and small groups will be offered by the Florida Baptist Convention Sunday School Department in two locations across the state, Saturday, Sept. 24. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started eight new churches in July 2011. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Students world­wide will “Converge” Sept. 28 for the 21st annual See You at the Pole student-led prayer movement at their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools and families—and ask God to bring moral and spiritual awak­ening to their campuses and countries. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Matthew 9:35-36 presents a portrait of Jesus as He went about the cities and villages ... teaching, preaching and healing. And seeing the crowds—and each individual—He was compelled by compassion. The multitudes were weary and languishing without hope. They were in need—of a healing touch, a gentle word, a loving embrace. But mostly they were in need of a Shepherd, who could carry their burdens, and offer grace, truth, freedom and hope. They were in need of a Savior who could give eternal life. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville is preparing for their annual Prayer Conference Sept. 12 -14 in the historic R.G. Lee Chapel beginning at 10 a.m. Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ARLINGTON, Texas (BP)—Jason Thibeaux said he wasn’t really afraid of Muslims. But he definitely didn’t love them, either. <br><br> “I was indifferent to Muslims, and that broke my heart,” he said. “That was almost the worst scenario — that I would treat them as though they weren’t even there. You go have your life and I’ll have mine, and hopefully we never interact.” Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW YORK (BP)—In the days following Sept. 11, 2001, many Americans flocked to churches only to drop out within months. Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS)—Churches can join Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in promoting spiritual awakening across the United States by hosting preachers during Revive this Nation, March 11-14, 2012. <br><br> Southwestern aims to sendrevival preachers to 200 churches throughout the nation, with at least one preacher in all 50 states. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LINCOLN, Neb. (BP)—Contrary to popular belief, atheism is not the norm for people with higher education, new research shows. <BR><BR> Education does not push people away from God, it just makes them more likely to accept a liberal attitude toward religion, reported USA Today. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education has named three Baptist universities among the nation’s top 42 collegiate workplaces. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SHAWNEE, Okla. (BP)—Two 97-year-old twins, retired teachers Sadie Gardner Blanton of Shawnee, Okla., and Madie Gardner Shaffer of Guymon, Okla., have been named as recipients of the Profile In Excellence Award by Oklahoma Baptist University’s alumni association. Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TAMPA (FBC)—A three-day event for Florida Baptist worship leaders to focus on “why we worship more than how we worship,” will be offered at the Worship Expo, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Tampa-area Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz. Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSOVILLE (FBC)—As students prepare for the start of the college school year, Baptist Collegiate Ministry directors throughout the state are organizing with get-acquainted activities, events and open-door policies. Through the Cooperative Program, Florida Baptists provide a Christian witness on these campuses and will welcome Florida Baptist college students. Below is a listing of BCM directors by area. Contact them to share names of new students. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW YORK (BP)—Ten years after 9/11, Freeman Field and his father Taylor agree that what terrorists intended for evil produced a life-changing harvest of good for the younger Field. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW YORK (BP)—At 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 as Tom Fortner sat down for a quick breakfast, only five miles from where he blessed his meal, a commercial airliner navigated by terrorists slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI SPRINGS (FBC)—Layman Tripp Rentz and his family visited Miami Springs Baptist Church looking for a dynamic congregation that was aggressively preaching the Word of God. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Jean Emile stands on the corner of Commonwealth and West Palm avenues on Jacksonville’s northwest quadrant and sees more than the two-story building that his members scrimped for, prayed for and remodeled as a place of worship. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LEVY COUNTY (FBC)—For each person baptized at rural Levy County’s Cross Brand Church, Pastor Billy Keith ties a knot in a long, leather horse bridle that straddles a six-foot cross at the front of the open air pavilion where worship is held. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (FBC)—Church leaders called it the “largest tent revival” in history, as Central Baptist Church of Leesburg tented the church’s 130 year-old sanctuary to get rid of the tens of thousands of termites slowing eating away the church’s stucco walls. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—American Protestant pastors have widely varying standards for when they will and will not perform wedding ceremonies, according to a new survey by LifeWay Research. <br><br> The survey of 1,000 randomly selected Protestant pastors found that a majority (58 percent) will perform weddings for couples they know are living together. Nearly a third (31 percent) will not, and 10 percent are not sure. Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—John Revell, editor of SBC Life, is resigning to become pastor of a church in Connecticut. <br><br> Revell—associate editor of SBC Life from 1996 through September 2005 and editor thereafter—will leave his position effective Sept. 15 to become pastor of Stamford Baptist Church in Stamford, which is in southwest Connecticut and about 40 miles northeast of New York City. Prior to his work at SBC Life, he pastored churches in Florida and New York. Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BOSTON (BP)—U.S. team member Stephanie Cox spent much of her time on the bench at the Women’s World Cup in Germany. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GEORGE, South Africa (BP)—She’s an ordinary girl: brown eyes, brown hair, white sneakers. <BR><BR> What makes her stand out isn’t her voice, though her earth-shattering alto is easily distinguished in a room filled with song. It’s not her sense of humor, and the way she introduces herself as Julia Roberts instead of Julia October, her actual last name. It’s not even the fact that she’s sick, diagnosed with autoimmune disease lupus since she was 14 years old. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Recently planted seeds of a new partnership between Southern Baptists’ two mission boards are already beginning to sprout. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LONDON (BP)—Hudson Smith wasn’t too bothered by the paint that had splattered on his nicest pair of jeans, saying, “I was up for whatever was needed.” Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (BP)—While scores of Southern Baptist military chaplains minister to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, others are serving faithfully in other hot spots, often in isolated regions. <br><br> In the mountainous heart of Honduras, for example, where the four military branches work together in drug interdiction, Chaplain (Maj.) Dan Thompson and Chaplain (Capt.) Paul Cartmill serve some 500 soldiers who are part of Joint Task Force-Bravo located at Soto Cano Air Base near Comayagua. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FT. COLLINS, Colo. (BP)—Campus Crusade for Christ announced last month it is changing its name in the United States for a new, simplified one—Cru. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Jerry Windsor (second from left) reads the inscription of a Florida Baptist Historical Society marker that was dedicated at Olive Baptist Church, Monticello, on the occasion of the church’s 180th anniversary, Sunday, July 10. Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Tommy McElroy walks quickly down the hall to his next patient at the Center for Advanced Healthcare on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa. Board certified in family and sports medicine, he is an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at USF. <BR><BR> This successful physician who also serves as team physician for Sun Lake High School in Land O’Lakes, is living the dream he had when he and his brother came to live at the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes in Lakeland. Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and Orphan’s Heart (the Children’s Homes’ international childcare ministry) are striving to meet priority childcare needs, which include new clothes and supplies as children head back to school. They are also looking to collect a large supply of disposal diapers. Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MARAHANO, Brazil (BCF)—Second generation leaders have assumed the role of teacher rather than student at three new training sites established by Baptist College of Florida in cooperation with the Baptist State Convention of Maranhao and the Brazilian Home Mission Board. Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida recently named Joe Molina as its new Distance Site Director in Jacksonville, continuing the strong leadership of Christian higher education easily accessible in northeast Florida. Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Gov. Rick Scott hosted a July 30 bill signing ceremony of four pro-life measures passed by the Legislature in 2011 and formally signed into law by Scott shortly after the end of the legislative session. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—One in four persons in Florida lack a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That statistic alone should compel every Christian believer in the state to action. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Tattered straw hat atop his head, William Richard gazed with sad eyes at the rubble that had once been his life. A late April 2011 tornado raged through his Cullman, Ala., home of 43 years, leaving a debris-strewn field in its wake. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The unrelenting pain, coursing from Janet Nicolette abscessed tooth, created a throbbing headache, keeping her awake at night. Yet, her calls to dentists during the day created another kind of pain—the pain of not knowing what to do or where to turn for help. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Guest speakers are trained and willing to speak in your church on State Missions (at no cost to the church). Please contact your speaker of choice directly and schedule a date for your congregation to promote the Maguire State Mission Offering. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Patricia Rose Biggs, wife of Charles Biggs, pastor of Celebration Church in Ocala, died suddenly July 29. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Charles, her children, Mary, Martha (Mike) and Charles (Verena); and her grandchildren, Ashley, Jeremy, Madison, Joshua and Shelby Grace. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Cade Rutledge* used to wave his American flags and get really fired up about “getting those terrorists.” <BR><BR> From most people’s viewpoint, he had a right to feel that way. His brother was working in the Twin Towers nearly 10 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. He made it out alive, but the attack was still way too close to home physically and emotionally for Rutledge to consider the idea of loving terrorists, or loving any Muslims for that matter. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SOUTHEAST ASIA—As a teenager, Budi Mulyadi* trained to kill Christians with a 9 mm pistol. <br><br> For months, he aimed it at a target while an instructor shouted slurs against Christianity. Mulyadi didn’t know anything about the religion, just that it threatened Islam. Not once did someone explain Christ’s sacrifice to him. Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SOUTHEAST ASIA (BP)—Robert “Bob” William Morgan Jr., a Christian worker overseas for more than 23 years, died of a heart attack July 14 while cycling during a visit to Singapore. He was 64. <br><br> At the time of his death, Morgan and his wife Regina (“Jean”) were stationed on a remote island in East Indonesia where they led Bible studies and taught in an orphanage. Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BEIJING (BP)—After a week of harsh restrictions by Chinese authorities, Shouwang Church saw a rise in people who were able to participate in its outdoor meeting July 10, which led to the arrest of at least 26 Chinese Christians. <BR><BR> Of those arrested at the 14th consecutive outdoor meeting were two women who are members of Xinshu Church and had joined the service, which must be held outdoors because Shouwang—an illegal church—was evicted from its leased meeting space by the government in April. The church members meet in an open-air plaza in northwest Beijing each Sunday. Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MOUNTVILLE, Pa. (BP)—As a child, Ron Wilson dreamed about one day growing up to be a martial arts instructor. It began as a simple interest in defending himself against bullies and later became a passion. Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—“Let’s get to it already. We’re ready to roll.” <br><br> Micah Fries’ sentiment echoed throughout the crowd as IMB President Tom Elliff gave an invitation during the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting June 14-15 in Phoenix. Elliff told messengers he felt like he was “holding back a dam” of Southern Baptists ready to walk forward and “embrace” the remaining 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups around the globe. Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani faces execution unless he renounces his faith in Christ, a written verdict from the country’s supreme court has confirmed. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Congress could take four steps that would work rather quickly to combat religious persecution worldwide, a Southern Baptist public policy specialist said at a July 13 conference. <BR><BR> Among the recommendations, the Senate and House of Representatives should approve measures that would strengthen the federal government’s ground-breaking international religious freedom law and establish a special envoy for religious minorities in a repressive region of the world, said Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)–President Obama and Pentagon leaders announced Friday they have certified the United States military is prepared for open homosexuals to serve in the armed services. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (BP)—California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law July 14 that will make the state the first in the nation to require the teaching of gay history and—in a move that could impact the U.S.—force textbooks to include gay leaders and gay role models. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The District of Columbia paid for at least 300 abortions in the brief time Congress and President Obama lifted the ban on funding for the procedures in America’s capital. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Children begging in the streets of Managua, Nicaragua to get food and other necessities received just that and more when Orphan’s Heart, the international childcare ministry of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes sent mission teams there this summer to share the love of Jesus with them. <BR><BR> Orphan’s Heart forged a unique partnership with Bethel Baptist Church, a local congregation in Managua, to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of some of these children. Bethel Baptist started the ministry a few years ago, which currently reaches 190 children every week. Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SANYATI, Zimbabwe (BP)—Volunteers are digging into the renovation of the historic Sanyati Baptist Hospital so new generations of Zimbabweans can experience for themselves the love of the Great Physician. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 The South Florida Sunday School Convention Aug. 13 at Crossroads Baptist Church in Fort Myers will provide small group conferences for Sunday School leaders and teachers. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 While many think the summer months are downtime for the faculty and staff of Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville, the reality is the campus resembles a beehive of activity as syllabi are developed, dorms are refurbished, and renovations are taking place throughout the campus preparing for the new students and those returning. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—The North American Mission Board is sending $950,000 to Baptist conventions in seven states hard-hit by tornadoes and storms this spring. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 17 new churches in April, May and June 2011. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—While the number of evangelicals in the United States is rising, the moral health of the nation continues to falter, Richard Land told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 14. <br><br> In his report to the convention, Land, president of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said the ERLC continues to fight for the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death and “everywhere in between.” Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—When Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Douglas Carver retires from the Army in July, the U.S. Army’s Chief of Chaplains will take with him experiences with the armed forces’ men and women that have helped form and transform him. Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins delivered the 93rd annual report of the financial services organization to messengers of the 2011 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 14-15 at the Phoenix Convention Center. <br><br>Despite the current economy, which continues to struggle since the 2008-09 economic downturn, GuideStone has had one of its greatest investment years ever, receiving favorable recognition from industry firms like Lipper and fi360, Hawkins said. Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Thom S. Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, shared with messengers at the SBC annual meeting June 14 that LifeWay is “doing well by doing good.” Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—The need for renewed evangelism, concerns about Calvinism and comments regarding North American Mission Board budget cuts were voiced during the annual evangelists-sponsored worship service prior to the SBC annual meeting. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Filipino Southern Baptist leaders met June 14 in Phoenix to ramp up church planting efforts among the 3.2 million Filipinos living in the United States and Canada. <BR><BR> “We want to see the number of Filipino churches double,” said Roger Manao, president of the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America and pastor of Philadelphia Bible Church International. “We have 200 churches, and we are not doing enough. We have to do more.” Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Followers of Jesus often look for the devil’s attack in the wrong places, a speaker told the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship June 11. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Missions leaders from across the nation “proclaimed” the freedom and Good News of Jesus Christ during the first two sessions of the 2011 National Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting in Phoenix. <br><br> “Proclaim!” was the theme for this year’s June 12-13 celebration based on Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (NIV). Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Wearing an umpire uniform, Jeff Iorg said he wanted to show off his “missionary clothes” during the concluding session of the 2011 National Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting June 13. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Small churches and bivocational pastors are a Great Commission powerhouse, a North American Mission Board leader told the Bivocational Small Church Leadership Network during the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix. Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention were reminded of the importance of theological education through reports from the convention’s six seminaries during the June 14-15 gathering in Phoenix (reports from New Orleans and Southern were in the June 30 issue of the Florida Baptist Witness): Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DENVER (BP)—With two older brothers, football was a common activity for Tim Tebow when he was a child. <br><br> “One of us would play quarterback, while the other two would face off against each other, with one as a receiver and the other the defensive back assigned to cover him,” Tebow writes in his new book, Through My Eyes. Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)–Following an 11 year tradition, the Global Mission Team from First Baptist Church of Orlando spent the third week of June on campus at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville where they provided manual labor for a number of projects aimed at improving the facilities and landscape. Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC)—The Florida Baptist Theological Education, working in partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and The Baptist College of Florida, has released its course schedule for the 2011/2012 fall term. <br><br> Classes are offered in Pensacola, Graceville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and through the Center of the America’s locations in Miami. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (FBW)—Florida Baptists filled a variety of roles during the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 15-16 in Phoenix, and at various conferences and events prior to the annual meeting. It is estimated about 241 Florida Baptists served as registered messengers. Many also joined Crossover 2011 the week prior to the SBC, and for evangelistic block parties and events on the Saturday before the SBC. Florida Baptists also served on a number of committees and boards–and on the SBC’s Executive Committee. Here are just a few–most have been included in stories in the June 30 issue of the Witness and throughout these pages. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—WMU extended an invitation to Blume. <br><br> The invitation to the missions gathering for teen girls was extended at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 14 in Phoenix. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALBANY, N.Y. (BP)—The movement to legalize “gay marriage” nationwide scored a landmark victory June 24 when New York’s Senate passed and the governor signed a bill making the state the most populous—and easily the most influential one—to redefine marriage. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Marc Johnston often asks, “What if every Florida Baptist gave 50 cents, or $1 or $2? What an opportunity of generosity!” <br><br> During the past year, 189,302 people were fed through 159 Florida Baptist churches and associations through Florida Baptists’ gifts to world hunger. Many spiritual needs were met as food was distributed, resulting in 2,239 salvation decisions. And yet, the recession has strained funds. More than a billion people in the world do not have enough to eat, Johnston reported, and in Florida, an estimated 2 million people who live below the poverty level go hungry every day. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 In our nation’s cities, one out of every four persons in a soup kitchen line is a child. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 An outpouring of generosity Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 In 2010 Florida Baptists offered an outpouring of generosity, giving $256,000 to world hunger. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Hearing passionate pleas to view the people of the world as God sees them, attendees of the 2011 Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference were challenged to take action. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Pastors must take the lead in personal holiness, evangelism and service to others if Southern Baptist churches are to be effective in reaching the world for Christ, speakers said at the 2011 Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in its first two sessions June 12-13. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—If Southern Baptists are going to fulfill their God-given mission in a lost world, they must deal with fragmentation and self-centeredness and recommit themselves to gratitude, trust, unified ministry and honesty, messengers were told during the opening session of the SBC annual meeting June 14. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)--Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention were reminded of the importance of theological education through reports from the convention’s six seminaries during the June 14-15 gathering in Phoenix: Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Messengers offered 17 motions June 14 during the opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. All but one of the motions, however, were referred to SBC entities or ruled out of order during the subsequent business sessions of the convention. The remaining motion was referred by messengers for a vote at the 2012 annual meeting in New Orleans. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—Southern Baptist leaders gathered with experts in public policy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary last month to discuss the biblical response to wealth and poverty. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—A lawsuit in federal court challenging the minister’s housing allowance has ended, according to a report from GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW) – A two-year battle over a “Consent Decree” limiting religious freedom of students and teachers in Santa Rosa School District has been settled, Liberty Counsel announced July 1. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)— A Committee on Nominations composed of 26 pastors, 14 laypersons and two associational directors of missions has been appointed by the officers of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—A pastor, a seminary student and Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, delivered a challenge for renewed commitment to unified ministry through the SBC’s Cooperative Program. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Calling themselves “men of yesterday” in the Southern Baptist Convention, 9Marks founder Mark Dever and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson told younger pastors June 13 they should heed the wisdom of previous generations that upheld biblical authority and sound doctrine. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—The push in 2010 for a Great Commission Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention was not a push for more programs, as much as it was an ambition to recover the Gospel among Southern Baptist churches, according to several members of a panel at a Baptist21 luncheon June 14. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Hundreds of pastors, church leaders, laymen—young and old—made their way down the aisles. Some carried small children. One limped forward with a cane. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Pastors are responsible to lead their churches to engage the world’s unreached people groups with the Gospel, David Platt said in the convention sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting June 15. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Missionaries and chaplains, a U.S. Army general, a barber, two tornado victims and a redeemed young man mirrored the work of the North American Mission Board during its report to messengers June 14 at the 2011 SBC annual meeting. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Southern Baptist Convention messengers meeting in Phoenix June 14-15 adopted an historic report encouraging ethnic diversity, witnessed dozens of leaders standing together in support of a landmark unity pledge, and saw hundreds of pastors and laypeople volunteer to lead their churches to embrace one of the world’s 3,800 unengaged people groups. &#8232;&#8232; <BR><BR> It was the lowest-attended annual meeting in 67 years, with just over 4,800 in attendance. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Messengers addressed the thorny issue of immigration by adopting a resolution that sought to promote the Gospel of Jesus while calling for justice and compassion during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, June 14-15 in Phoenix. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—A coalition of homosexual leaders and their allies met for more than 30 minutes June 15 with Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright, with the leaders demanding an apology from the SBC and Wright refusing to budge, saying that Scripture is clear on the issue. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Seminary president R. Albert Mohler Jr. says comments he made about homosexuality at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting reflect biblical teaching, and his remarks are receiving support from two prominent evangelical leaders who minister to the homosexual community. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Caleb Tuten (l), member of New Home Baptist Church in Madison, served his 4th year as SBC page in Phoenix. Robb Carr, from Cumming, Ga., is coordinator of page program. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The billboards dot roadsides worldwide and a fleet of buses spent months crisscrossing the United States—all to announce that Judgment Day would occur Saturday, May 21, with the end of the world following on Oct. 21. <br><br> The dates were courtesy of Harold Camping, the eccentric 89-year-old author, radio personality and president of California-based Family Radio. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LOS ANGELES (BP)—Richard Rodriguez remembers Family Radio fondly. Growing up in the 1980s, he tuned in to the Christian network during his tumultuous teenage years. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LOS ANGELES (BP)—When Scotty McCreery won Season 10 of the singing contest “American Idol” May 25, he responded by saying, “I thank the Lord. He got me here.” Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary conferred degrees to more than 225 students May 13-14 in Leavell Chapel, holding two separate graduation ceremonies for the first time since Hurricane Katrina due to the large number of graduates. More than 125 students graduated from New Orleans Seminary May 14, the day after more than 100 graduated from Leavell College. <BR><BR> Seminary president Chuck Kelley congratulated the graduates on successfully finishing their field of study, while also reminding them that they didn’t do it all on their own. “Every single one of these students who will walk across this stage today ... has a story of God’s grace, something that God did to get them here, something that God did to keep them here,” Kelley said. “It is literally a cavalcade of grace.” Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Keith Strasburger skillfully conveyed Jesus’ story of the prodigal son to the small group gathered around him. His style was easygoing and relational, yet he told the story with amazing detail and accuracy. Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—A typical Bible storying session follows eight steps set to the acronym S.T.O.R.Y.I.N.G. <BR><BR> S: Set the story context. Bridge from the previous session’s story by: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—On May 20, the Board of Trustees of The Baptist College of Florida met on the campus in Graceville where they received reports on a broad range of topics concerning curriculum development, future program developments and campus construction. <br><br> During the meeting, the board approved the proposed operating budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year representing a 3.6 percent increase over the 2010-2011 budget. A program of capital expenditures was approved involving construction and the renovation of several campus facilities, as well as the addition of several needed resources for the college. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Two professors from the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, James Newell, assistant professor of Old Testament and Greek and Mark Rathel, associate professor of theology and philosophy were recently invited to write articles for Biblical Illustrator, the quarterly Bible study magazine for leaders and learners featuring information and articles to assist in explaining Biblical events, people, customs and Bible texts. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—The Baptist Communicators Association announced the winners of its annual awards competition at an April 29 banquet in Alpharetta, Ga. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—As if Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams haven’t faced enough challenges because of a spate of deadly tornadoes in the South and Midwest over the past month, June 1 marked the official start of the 2011 North Atlantic hurricane season. Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (LWCR) – The number of baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention in 2010 fell by nearly 5 percent, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DENVER (BP)--With two older brothers, football was a common activity for Tim Tebow when he was a child. <br><br> "One of us would play quarterback, while the other two would face off against each other, with one as a receiver and the other the defensive back assigned to cover him," Tebow writes in his new book, "Through My Eyes." Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NORFOLK, Va. (BP)—Virginia pastor Eric Thomas will be nominated as second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a North Carolina pastor announced June 9. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NORFOLK, Va. (BP)—In compiling statistics related to nominees for Southern Baptist Convention offices, Baptist Press has gathered the following information related to first vice president candidate Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, La. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ROCKVILLE, Va. (BP)—Tom Elliff, in his first trustee meeting as president of Internation­al Mission Board, rolled out the beginning of the vision he believes “God painted on my heart.” <br><br> Trustees elected a new vice president during their May 20 meeting at the International Learning Center in Rockville, Va., and were asked to pray for the final results of the 2010 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—The stench of dead bodies and human waste filled Mike Reid’s* nostrils as he stepped inside a filthy, rundown medical clinic in the South African bush. A cholera outbreak was ravaging area villages and the then 18-year-old college freshman had volunteered to help provide clean drinking water. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—A recent report from the SBC Executive Committee affirms what Keith Jefferson realized when he set foot on the mission field: God can use ethnic minorities in a big way. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix will vote on a set of recommendations aimed at making the convention’s leadership positions more reflective of the growing ethnic diversity in its churches. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—"We all came over on different ships, but now we're all in the same boat." Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—John L. Yeats will be re-nominated for another one-year term as recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 14-15 annual meeting in Phoenix, an SBC seminary leader has announced. Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Louisiana pastor Fred Luter will be nominated as first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Daniel Akin announced June 7. Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Jim Wells, the SBC's registration secretary, will be re-nominated for another one-year term during the June 14-15 annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., a Missouri pastor announced June 7. Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Churches from all over the world will be heading to New York City this summer. <BR><BR> “Big Apple Adventure” is the theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School material produced by LifeWay Christian Resources, and children can explore one of the most exciting cities on the planet while learning to step out in faith, connect with Jesus and share the message of Christ with the world. Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW) – Randall James – known as “cancer pastor” at First Baptist Church in Orlando for his longtime battle with various cancers – is facing a recurrence of lymphoma, and tests have revealed the need for open heart surgery, a longtime friend and fellow pastor told Florida Baptist Witness June 3. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—A U.S. House of Representatives committee passed legislation May 12 that includes a ban on the performance of “gay marriages” by military chaplains on base. <BR><BR> The amendment was part of the annual Defense authorization bill, which the House Armed Services Committee passed, 60-1. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Registration is now open for the three-day “SBC Fuge” student event, to be held June 13-15 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DES MOINES, Iowa (BP)—Jimmy Barrentine announced his upcoming retirement as Baptist Convention of Iowa executive director-treasurer during the May 12-13 meetings of the convention’s Executive Board in Des Moines. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NAZARETH, Israel (BP)—Flat-roofed houses still dot the Nazareth skyline like they did in Jesus’ time, but these days they’re covered with satellite dishes. <BR><BR> A good bit has changed since Jesus grew up in the Galilean city. But one thing rings true across the years: Christ’s hometown still needs His peace, said Charles Tyson*. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ISRAEL (BP)—Jay* doesn’t have flashbacks, but he does think often about the day he saw a neighborhood of fellow Israelis get gunned down around him. Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The Board of Directors of the Florida Baptist Credit Union honored Steve Baumgardner during its April meeting. Baumgardner served as Chairman of the Board 2000-2011, and he continues to serve on the Board. <br><br> Baumgardner was joined in the celebration by his wife Paula and son Eli; John Sullivan, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention; the Supervisory Committee and the Credit Union staff. Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PANAMA CITY BEACH (BP)—The young man showed up an hour early at the Panama City Beach bowling alley and shyly said he had come for the free pancake breakfast. Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Southern Baptists’ two mission boards have differing ministry assignments but one overarching vision: Mobilize every church to evangelize the lost, make disciples and plant new congregations. <BR><BR> “Working together, we can do more than we can do apart,” said Tom Elliff, president of the International Mission Board, who met with Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, April 25 to brainstorm ways to partner in realizing that vision. Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—To simplify and re-focus its ministry assignments—as directed by the Southern Baptist Convention last summer in Orlando—North American Mission Board trustees adopted a six-item mission statement during their May 11 meeting in Alpharetta, Ga. Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—While North American Mission Board trustees approved the nomination of Steve Bass as West Region vice president during their May 11 meeting, NAMB President Kevin Ezell also announced two other key appointments. Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MONTREAL, Quebec (BP)—It’s still possible to visit 1,000 Quebec communities and never see an evangelical church—a staggering fact that Canadian church planting leaders face as they gather momentum for the Send Montreal church planting effort. Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes rolled their new mobile pregnancy care resource center into the West Orlando area of Village Square May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide pregnancy care services and information to underserved young women in the area. <br><br> The purpose was to reach out to women and families who may be in a crisis pregnancy and may not have access to a pregnancy care resource center in their area. The love and hope of Jesus Christ was shared with every woman served. Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—A cool breeze, bright sunshine, and the flurry of black caps and gowns welcomed an overflow crowd to the record setting graduation exercises at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville May 13. Seventy-six eager graduates received diplomas representing 17 degree fields. This number set an all time record for a single graduation in the life of the 68-year-old institution. Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Joel Laseter, a senior at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, was selected as the spring semester winner of the Excellence in Preaching Award presented by BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen and his wife, Ruth Ann. As the title holder, Laseter was given the opportunity to preach in chapel before his peers and faculty members on May 3. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TUSCALOOSA, Ala (FBC) - The faith-based outreach coordinator for Tuscaloosa is asking Florida Baptist churches to consider taking mission trips to the community this summer to assist in their recovery efforts in the aftermath of the April 27 tornado. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is coordinating the response in Joplin, Mo. after a deadly EF-5 tornado devastated the Southwest city May 22, killing at least 122, and for now Florida Baptist Disaster Relief is sending funds and offering assistance if needed down the road. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (BP)—K.J. Choi was quick to talk about his faith after winning The Players Championship in a sudden death playoff May 15 against David Toms on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PALATKA (FBW)-Ted A. Rodda, Sr., 89, of died May 20, at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine following an extended illness. He is survived by Lucille Price Rodda of Palatka, his wife of 63 years. Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—The HCSB Study Bible, published by B&H Publishing Group, the publishing arm of LifeWay Christian Resources, was announced as a 2011 Christian Book Awards winner in the Bible category by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) at an awards banquet held Monday, May 2, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 HOUSTON (BP)—It’s unlike any Baptist-produced Easter video you’ve ever seen, and it’s gotten more than 300,000 views on YouTube—and lots of positive feedback from around the world. Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (FBC)—Super Summer, a week-long camp of praise, worship, Bible studies and fun activities for middle and high school students, is set for July 11-15 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg. <BR><BR> Jeff Hessinger, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s personal evangelism department, which sponsors the event, said it is “the most exciting week in the lives of students throughout Florida. We expect to have another incredible experience in this power-packed week.” Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBC)—Believing many in the church today are “biblically illiterate,” Pensacola Pastor Gregory McBride looks for ways to focus his flock on the basics of Bible study, Bible reading and Scripture memorization. Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Openings are still available for girls entering third through twelfth grades to attend Camp WorldLight this summer. The theme of this year’s camp, “2011 to the eXtreme,” will focus on missions in South America and will provide adventure recreation, interactive Bible experiences and individual tracks for the campers. <BR><BR> “Camp WorldLight provides opportunities to hear and respond to God’s call to missions,” said Anne Wilson, camp director. Girls will be able to interact with missionaries and mission role models.” Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)–The six Southern Baptist seminaries will hold their annual alumni luncheons on Wed., June 15 during the SBC annual meeting: Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions will convene for their 51st meeting June 12-13 in Phoenix. Speakers will include Kevin Ezell, Tom Elliff, Ken Hemphill and Margaret Slusher. Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Anne Wright, president of the 2011 SBC Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon, said the theme “Influential Joy” came to her out of a personal journey. Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (FBW)—Two Floridians have been appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright to serve on the SBC’s Committee on Committees which will assemble in Phoenix just prior to the June 14-15 annual meeting. Wright also appointed Floridians to the tellers and credentials committees, while others have been nominated by the SBC Committee on Nominations to serve on various SBC entities’ governing boards. John Bozard, First Baptist Church, Orlando; and Steve Morris, First Baptist Church, Plant City, were appointed to the 70-member Committee on Committees. Otto Fernandez, Riverside Baptist Church, Miami, was named to the Credentials Committee. Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—SBC President Bryant Wright has named the members of the Resolutions Committee who will serve during the June 14-15 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix. Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—”A Great Commission People with a Great Commandment Heart” will provide the focus for a June 14-15 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix that will be more compact and offer more opportunities for fellowship. <br><br> A broad range of auxiliary activities also will be held, from Crossover 2011 evangelistic outreach events to the annual Pastors’ Conference and Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting and missions celebration. Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A Great Commission People with a Great Commandment Heart (Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 22:37-39) Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A diverse lineup of speakers and a focus on God’s Kingdom will amplify the theme of the 2011 SBC Pastors’ Conference: “Aspire: Yearning to join God’s kingdom activity.” Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 The first session of the 2011 Pastors’ Conference will feature music by the ASPIRE Worship Team and Choir, video highlights of God’s activity as well as features on church planting in North America. In addition, there will be a special Ministry Development presentation by one of the ASPIRE partners. Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Southern Baptists coming to Phoenix for Crossover 2011 will aid an oasis of local churches Saturday, June 11, in ministering to the spiritual thirst in their communities. Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The King James Version of the Bible, first published 400 years ago on May 5, 1611, is the Bible God used to give believers many of the riches of the Puritan movement, and it was the Bible at the heart of the Great Awakenings of the 18th century and the modern missionary movement, an expert noted. Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LONDON (BP)—Every Sunday, Vicar Gary Jenkins parts the pages of his Bible and preaches the Word to the parishioners of Holy Trinity Church in Redhill, United Kingdom. Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Four hundred years after it debuted as the first widely distributed Bible for the English-speaking world, the King James Version of the Bible still holds a place of distinction among Americans, according to a new survey by LifeWay Research. Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptists are being called to a Day of Prayer for the Hurricane Season Sunday, June 5, to “seek God for the Glory and the good of our neighbors,” according to a state prayer specialist. <BR><BR> The mood of the nation senses a greater need from difficulties they are facing from the economy, natural disasters, political uncertainty and the environment, said Rick Shepherd, Florida Baptist director of prayer and spiritual awakening. Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Even as weather forecasters are predicting another active hurricane season this year, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief workers are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, said Fritz Wilson, director of the Convention’s Disaster Relief and Recovery department. Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The Annual Church Profile held both good news and not-so-good news on the condition of churches in the Florida Baptist State Convention during the church year 2009-2010. Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In order to comply with new safety regulations taking effect in June, churches need to replace their nursery cribs, which could already pose a danger to children and leave churches open to liability lawsuits. <br><br> The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved sweeping new safety rules, which outlaw drop-side cribs and require stronger hardware and supports. The commission said it is unlikely that existing cribs will meet the new standards. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has announced that in light of the economic recession and a reduction in Cooperative Program funding, the seminary will lay off three professors, ask four professors to shift to part-time status, and eliminate six ministry-based faculty positions, effective Aug. 1. <br><br> New Orleans Seminary President Chuck Kelley made the public announce­ment in a statement to Baptist Press late Friday, after telling seminary staff and faculty. Earlier, he met personally with the individuals affected by the cuts. The changes were to be presented to the seminary trustees at their April 12-13 meeting as a part of the proposed budget for next year. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—No matter how godly a male student minister is, he will never be able to teach a teen­age girl how to be a godly woman. She needs a godly woman to do that. <br><br> Given that truth, churches need to have ministry devoted specifically to teenage girls led by godly women of several generations, girls’ ministry leaders say. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Having a large ministry budget or costly activities isn’t the key to successful girls’ ministry, according to leaders in the field. Girls want fun and relationships. They don’t care what it costs or if it costs anything. They just like doing stuff together. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—Registration is now open for families to enroll their children in preschool childcare and the children’s conference in conjunction with the June 14-15 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 On April 5 following Founders’ Day Chapel, the Palm Beach Atlantic University community received its first look at a new bronze statue of founding President Jess Moody. The 7-foot-tall bronze likeness of Moody that now overlooks the Rinker Green depicts him with a Bible in his hand and facing into a breeze that represents the winds of the Holy Spirit that guided him to found the college in 1968. Artist Zenos Frudakis, who also has created a statue of John D. MacArthur for the city of Palm Beach Gardens, sculpted the figure from the same clay reserves used for the Lincoln Memorial. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 12 new churches in March, 2011. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE&#8200;(BCF)—On April 11, history majors and U.S. government students at Baptist College of Florida in Graceville participated in an informative visit to Florida’s state capitol. Professor Beth Minchin and Dean of Students Roger Richards led the group to see firsthand the inner workings of government and how decisions and policies are conceived. <br><br> Upon arriving at the capitol building, Joy Minchin, a representative in the Financial Services Department, guided the group to the floor of the Senate. The first activity found BCF students on the floor of the Senate filling various senators’ seats while R. Philip Twogood, secretary of the Senate, shared with the group how sessions are conducted within Florida’s upper house. Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Their cleats are laced, final instructions have been given, and it’s powder puff football time at Baptist College of Florida in Graceville. If you’re “Ready for Some Football,” come out and cheer on the BCF ladies as they put on game day face paint and hard charging determination. Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville will hold commencement exercises Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m. for the largest graduating class to date. Plans are well underway to launch 76 seniors into areas of ministry, missions, leadership, education and business. Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLHASSEE (NSF) &ndash; The House passed on Wednesday HJR 1471, a proposed constitutional amendment which would ask voters to remove from the constitution language barring state dollars from going to religious institutions.</ Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF) -- The Florida Senate adopted two pro-life bills on Thursday, one day after the House adopted six pro-life measures. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Hollywood movie star and prolife activist Jennifer O’Neill told the Women of Compassion Forum March 5 she was never truly fulfilled until she placed her belief and trust in Jesus Christ at the age of 38. <BR><BR> Most known for her role with John Wayne in “Rio Lobo,” O’Neill, author of the 2004 From Fallen to Forgiven, was the keynote speaker at an event for more than 80 women gathered at the Lakeland campus of Florida Baptist Children’s Home for their third annual meeting. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Mackenzie Small can easily quote Jeremiah 29:11 from memory. This scripture became her life verse when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior while she was with the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes announced April 4 they would provide each child in the state’s foster care system a copy of the book, Victor’s Dream, to commemorate the beginning of Children’s Week at the State Capitol. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Senate rejected April 14 the last effort to defund the country’s leading abortion provider for what remains of the 2011 budget year. Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Seeking to learn about how he might better serve pastors in more than 2,800 churches affiliated with the Florida Baptist State Convention, David Uth, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando—who was elected president of the state convention in Novemeber, 2010—will continue to hold listening sessions around the state throughout April and May. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BALTIMORE, Md (NAMB)—College freshman Shemaiah Strickland suffered with horrible nightmares when she first came to Morgan State University in Baltimore. <BR><BR> Adjusting to being away from her home in Atlanta for the first time, she said she just wanted to belong. Strickland attended a university organization fair and met Southern Baptist missionary Vickie Stewart, who was staffing a booth with fellow campus chaplains for The University Memorial Chapel. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PIERREFONDS, Quebec (NAMB)—In describing the spiritual condition of the people of Quebec, where he has been overseeing church planting since January 2009, North American Mission Board (NAMB) church planter Jacques Avakian calls to mind the boat crew in the story of Jonah. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (NAMB)—There are local Southern Baptist associations and then there is Oregon Trail Baptist Association in Nebraska, where missionary Doug Lee works to plant new churches. His association takes up the whole western half of Nebraska. Lee is jointly funded by the North American Mission Board and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BENICIA, Calif.—Attending a beginning sign language course as part of the deaf ministry at 38th Avenue Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1979, Howard Burkhart III liked his teacher so much he married her. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (FBW)- Dean Judson "D.J." Abernathy Sr., 86, died April 20 after a stroke following a medical procedure for a heart condition. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBW/NSF)—As the Legislature enters a limited work period the week of April 18 due to the Passover/Easter holidays, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley sees a possibly “record-setting year” for pro-life legislation and concerns for gambling measures. <br><br> The 2011 legislative session has been among the busiest of Bunkley’s 16-year lobbying career, he told Florida Baptist Witness April 16, a “byproduct” of strong conservative majorities in both the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—For the second time in four months, Apple has pulled a leading Christian app from its iPhone app store based on pressure from homosexual activists—a decision critics are calling intolerant and discriminatory and one that could have a societal impact far beyond the realm of iPhone owners. <BR><BR> One of the nation’s most powerful and popular companies, Apple pulled the Exodus International app March 22 after 150,000 people signed a petition at Change.org urging the company to remove what the petition called a “hateful and bigoted” app. The petition was started by Truth Wins Out, a homosexual group. Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—An iPhone and iPod touch app for GuideStone Financial Resources participants is now available for free download at www.GuideStone.org/mobileapp and in the Apple app store. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Cultural exclusivity in the church represents neither the power of the Gospel nor American society, and change is needed for the church to maintain relevance and vibrancy in the coming decades, Damian Emetuche and fellow professors tell students at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SNELLVILLE, Ga.—Yearly, thousands of immigrants come to the Atlanta metro area—fleeing poverty, famine, disease, civil war, persecution and even death. If Paulette DeHart has her way, they’ll learn English and meet Jesus Christ—not always in that order. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)—WorldCrafts, a global outreach of WMU, has launched its new branding campaign, which includes a new website, www.WorldCrafts.org, featuring easier navigation, streamlined product lines and larger images. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—As the second semester for the graduate program at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville draws to a close, discussions are already underway about hooding the first students to earn the new degree. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)–The Graceville campus of the Baptist College of Florida was recently enhanced with a BCF Eagle sign placed on the front of Solomon Hall and several BCF banners displayed on the lamp posts. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF) -- House panels approved April 12 two measures being closely followed by the Florida Baptist Convention during the annual legislative session. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ESQUINA, Argentina (BP)—Miche Patricia was more accustomed to hunting parties of upper-class, middle-aged men treating her like an employee at best and a servant at worst. But the laid-back, laughing Americans and their children treated her differently. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Jacksonville (FBC)—A special mission trip designed for Florida Baptist pastors to participate in a 10- day mission trip on the Amazon River is being coordinated by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Partnership Missions Department. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WMU)—National Woman’s Missionary Union has selected Andrea Niles of Fifth Street Baptist Church in Key West as one of six exceptional Acteens to serve on the 2011 National Acteens Panel. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 10 new churches in February, 2011. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (BP)—The North American Mission Board commissioned 81 new missionaries and chaplains at a commissioning service attended by some 800 people at First Baptist Church in Brandon on Sunday, March 20. Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF) -- The Senate Health Regulation Committee on Monday approved a measure (SB 1744) that would require heath care providers to conduct ultrasounds before performing any abortion. Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Patience and persistence are important for any archaeological dig, but one expedition in Israel is demanding an extra measure of long-suffering endurance. <BR><BR> The challenge is excavating a large, rock-hewn water tunnel at Tel Gezer that is believed to have been carved out by Canaanites between 1800 and 1500 B.C.—around the time of Abraham. Tons of debris must be removed from the ancient tunnel before the real work can even begin. Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Each bag of rock and dirt, gently lifted by crane from the depths of the Gezer water system reminds Jim Parker that God has a plan. As the dig unearths ancient history, Parker is uncovering the importance of his own history. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF) -- Legislation concerning pro-life and gambling matters are heading in opposite directions as the Legislature continues its 60-day legislative session. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PANAMA CITY (FBC)—The Emerald Coast Bible Study Summit, April 8-9, will provide instructional teaching on church transformation through the Sunday School. The two-day meeting is at Hiland Park Church, Hwy 231 in Panama City. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A LifeWay Research publication has been named to the 2010 Golden Canon for the second year in a row. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—As the practice of homeschooling continues to grow, an expert has noticed a “marked increase” in the scrutiny that parents and students can face when they choose to pursue an education at home. <BR><BR> “I think what we’re seeing is unfortunately a growing trend,” Michael Farris, chancellor of Patrick Henry College, told Baptist Press. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CORAL&#8200;SPRINGS (FBC)-Vacation Bible Study leaders can grab a cab for “The Big Apple Adventure” during the South Florida VBS Clinic, April 16 at Parkridge Baptist Church in Coral Springs. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 POMPANO (FBW)—First Baptist Church in Pompano Beach will sponsor the 16th annual Sonja Larson Memorial Golf Tournament April 30. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF)—The Senate Judiciary Committee approved on a party-line 4-2 vote on March 28 a measure that would amend the Florida Constitution to bar any public funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is endangered. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRANTS, N.M.(BP)—“When I am watching my pastors be effective for the Lord, and they’re drawing attention to the Lord and nobody knows who Jim Turnbo is, but they see God blessing in that church, that’s what gets me going like nothing else.” So says Jim Turnbo. <BR><BR> His humility and servant-spirit notwithstanding, Turnbo’s “people”—the Native American, Hispanic, African American and Anglo Southern Baptists of western New Mexico—know who Jim Turnbo is and what he is about. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BILLINGS, Mont. (BP)—A new collection and resource center at a Baptist college in Billings, Mont., is providing a unique account of the history of Christianity among Native Americans. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)—Georgia pastor Bryant Wright will be nominated for a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Alabama pastor David Platt announced March 11. Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—It was a secret Ishaq* held close for 13 years—one that caught journeyman missionary Craig Evans* by surprise when the young man revealed it. <BR><BR> In 2007, Evans began visiting a quaint Central Asian village where he befriended Ishaq. One day while Ishaq’s family answered the local mosque’s call to prayer, Evans was able to talk with his Muslim friend alone for the first time. Glancing around nervously, Ishaq leaned closer and whispered, “My one desire in life is to be near to God.” Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS)—The following individuals with Florida ties received degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Dec. 18, 2010. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (FBC)—Hands-on ministry projects, testimonies from Southern Baptist missionaries and worship sessions will be featured at “SonShine 2011,” a conference for all Florida Baptists April 8-9 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The Cooperative Program is a God-given mission strategy, it is life-changing ministries and it is a Great Commission mandate, according to John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ­Every time you drop a dollar in the offering plate of a church that participates in the Cooperative Program, you help someone hear the story of Jesus. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 How do busy church leaders promote the Cooperative Program while balancing the many other important items that clamor for their attention? Here are a few helpful suggestions. Churches cannot do everything suggested. Instead, pick suggestions that will work best in your church setting and emphasize the importance of the Cooperative Program. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TOKYO (BP)—The Southern Baptist relief effort in Japan is moving forward in spite of uncertainties about the ongoing nuclear crisis in the northeastern part of the country. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TOKYO (BP)—One week into the world’s worst nuclear emergency in 25 years, the United States has offered to evacuate American citizens living in Japan. The U.S. embassy in Tokyo urged Americans to stay at least 50 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant—four times the distance recommended by the Japanese government. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TOKYO (BP)—Thousands of the little wooden prayer tablets rattle softly in the cold, spring breeze, a symphony of soft clattering that drifts out from the Shinto shrine. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Japan has always been Yugo Kobari's home away from home. He grew up there. Once or twice a year he visits family, most of whom live there. He also has early memories of long bike rides not far from the nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan. Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF) -- Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday he has yet to delve into the nearly two dozen bills in the Legislature dealing with the abortion issue in some form or another, but said when he does he will do so as a “pro-life governor.” Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Said Musa, an Afghan man who was arrested in May and threatened with execution for becoming a follower of Jesus, has been released from prison after an international outcry on his behalf. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)- Jerry Haag, president of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, announced March 16 at a staff meeting he will leave April 15 to become vice president of university development at Baylor University, his alma mater. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)–Westboro Baptist Church’s messages at its frequent protests are despicable, but the U.S. Supreme Court’s March 2 decision in favor of the independent congregation is a victory for the free-speech rights of others, some social conservatives said. <BR><BR> The high court ruled in an 8-1 opinion that the tiny Topeka, Kan., church—which is not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention or any other denomination—is not liable for its 2006 protest outside the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq. Associate Justice Samuel Alito was the lone dissenter. Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (BP)—Bell Shoals Baptist Church is more than a building where about 3,200 people join in worship each week. “Giving to missions, praying for missions and going on mission are at the heart of who we are as a church,” said Stephen Rummage, pastor of the 50-year-old congregation in Brandon. <BR><BR> “We’re working as hard as we can to reach our own community and city with the Gospel, and we’re committed to partnering with other Southern Baptists to reach our nation and our world for Christ.” Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAREDO, Texas (NAMB)—Among all the hundreds of places North American Mission Board church planting missionaries work and minister across the United States and Canada, none is more dangerous than Laredo in south Texas, where Chuy and Maria Avila live and serve. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (NAMB)—Robert Maul is the Indianapolis 2011 version of the widow best known for her “mite,” who Jesus described (Luke 21:1-4) as having “put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Josh Hunt, author of You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less and a leading guru on the micro-church (small groups), is the keynote speaker for the 2011 North Florida Bible Study Summit, set for Arlington Baptist Church in Jacksonville March 26. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PANAMA CITY (FBW)—Thousands of women are expected to gather April 1-2 at First Baptist Church in Panama City to see Priscilla Shirer, touted as one of the nation’s best-loved female Christian authors and speakers, at “Going Beyond,” a LifeWay Christian Resource event. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—Ministers can find additional help in preparing their 2010 federal income tax returns with the annual Tax Return Preparation and Federal Reporting Guide from GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. <BR><BR> The 2011 guide details recent changes to tax laws and their effect on ministers. The guide includes important tax law changes signed into law by President Obama in December. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—When Kimberle Moon left for Milan in February, she had more on her mind than teaching workshops for Italian singers. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Missouri-based volunteers known as BUDD Builders (Building Under Divine Direction) stationed their hard-working group on the Graceville campus of Baptist College of Florida shortly after the Christmas holidays. This year, the group worked on modular buildings located near Heritage Village, converting them into large classroom spaces and faculty offices. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—In a monumental decision that some say could help legalize “gay marriage” in America, the Justice Department announced Feb. 23 that President Obama had instructed it to stop defending in court the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Speaker of the House John Boehner announced March 4 he would initiate action to bring about his chamber’s defense of a 1996 law designed to protect the definition of marriage in the wake of President Obama’s decision no longer to provide such a defense. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The percentage of SBC missions dollars going to overseas work will increase if a key recommendation from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee is adopted during the June 14-15 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (BP)—State convention executive directors unanimously agreed to affirm a portion of the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) report requesting a 50/50 division of Cooperative Program (CP) receipts—after consideration for shared ministry funds—between state conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Executive Committee members, Southern Baptist Convention entity heads and other guests gathered in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 21 to inaugurate Frank Page as the SBC Executive Committee’s sixth president. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ­­NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Frank Page, president of the Executive Committee, cast a “Christ-centered, Bible-based” vision Feb. 22 for how Southern Baptists can work with God to accomplish His purposes in North America and around the world during the next decade. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Palm Beach Atlantic University will erect a statue of Jess Moody, the University’s founding president, as part of the grand celebration of Jess Moody Day on Tuesday, April 5. The 7-foot-tall figure of Moody has been commissioned from Pennsylvania-based sculptor, Zenos Frudakis, who has crafted the likenesses of sports, religious, military and governmental leaders. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM&#8200;BEACH (FBW)-Lu Hardin, president of Palm Beach Atlantic University, resigned March 4, according to a news report in the Palm Beach Post. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 SOUTHEAST ASIA (BP)—Cardboard boxes sit half-opened in the back of the truck. An elementary aged Chinese boy sneaks away from his grandparents, who are standing in a long line of tourists outside a restaurant, to take a look. <br><br> The sign leaning against the boxes says the books inside are free. The boy glances around to see if anyone will help him. The Southern Cross Project volunteers, however, are busy setting up their Chinese Bible distribution spot for the night. They handed out more than 13,500 Bibles during Chinese New Year celebrations throughout Asia, but no one notices the little boy, who reaches his pudgy arms into the box and pulls out a Bible and red packet of literature. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—LifeWay Women have for years reached thousands of women through events such as Living Proof Live with Beth Moore; Going Beyond with Priscilla Shirer; Deeper Still with Moore, Shirer and Kay Arthur; You and Your Girl with Vicki Courtney; and others. Now, they have gone live with the premier of LifeWay Women Live, a monthly webcast with the goal of “reaching women everywhere.” <BR><BR> LifeWay Women Live is hosted by Chris Adams, LifeWay’s senior lead women’s ministry specialist; Paige Greene, LifeWay’s director of women’s training and events; and Pam Case, director of LifeWay Women. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—With legs dangling as he sits on a table in front of his class, George Guthrie poses the question that will serve as the topic for the final classroom discussion of the semester. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Prospective parents who are considering adopting from among the more than 1 million orphans worldwide who are living with HIV/AIDS now can utilize an HIV Adoption Toolkit as an information guide. Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (BP)—LifeWay Christian Resources is operating in the black, with a balanced budget and modest reserves, LifeWay President Thom Rainer said in his Q&A session Feb. 16 at the Association of Baptist State Papers annual meeting. Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 PHOENIX (BP)—John Piper, preaching pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, has been added to the list of speakers for the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference, slated June 12-13 in Phoenix prior to the SBC annual meeting. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Another series of videos secretly recorded at Planned Parenthood clinics—in this case apparently showing its employees agreeing to aid sex traffickers whose prostitutes are in their early teens—has renewed calls for the federal government to defund the country’s largest abortion provider. <BR><BR> From Feb. 1 to 8, the pro-life organization Live Action released video footage from hidden-camera investigations at six clinics that showed Planned Parenthood staff signaling cooperation with a self-described pimp in testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and providing birth control and/or abortions for his alleged, under-age sex workers. The pimp and, in some cases, a prostitute who accompanied him to the clinics were actors doing undercover work for Live Action. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. House of Representatives voted Feb. 18 to eliminate all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the country’s No. 1 abortion provider, during the remainder of this fiscal year. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Billy Graham isn’t known to say that people are “born Christians,” but a quote from President George W. Bush’s book that quotes Graham as saying just that has some people scratching their head—and Graham’s spokesman asserting the phrase is not in “Graham’s lexicon.” Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Two years ago the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes established its international childcare ministry, now known as Orphan’s Heart. Since that time hundreds of volunteers have participated on one of their many short term mission trips to various locations in the developing world to make a difference in the lives of thousands of orphaned and disadvantaged children. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Trustees of the North American Mission Board approved sweeping changes Wednesday, Feb. 9, altering the focus, strategy, leadership and organizational structure of the Southern Baptist entity. The changes come almost five months to the day after trustees voted last Sept. 14 to approve Kevin Ezell as NAMB’s president. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—North American Mission Board trustees approved four new vice presidents during an historic meeting Feb. 9 that resulted in an overhaul of how the entity will function in the United States and Canada. Following are profiles of the four new vice presidents: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 DAYTONA (BP)—Twenty-year-old Trevor Bayne—an outspoken Christian who often uses social media like Twitter to talk about his faith—became the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500 Feb. 20 at the Daytona International Speedway. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Changes are in store for the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting—including two missionary appointment services, fewer business sessions and no night sessions—in hopes more people will participate, the chairman of the committee planning the meeting announced Jan. 28. <br><br> Proposed changes include trimming the program to morning and afternoon business sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 14-15, and scheduling missionary appointment services for both of the convention’s two mission boards, said Will Langford, pastor of Great Bridge Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Va., and the chairman of the Committee on Order of Business. Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Pro-life leaders expressed hope regarding the state of their cause upon the 38th anniversary of abortion’s legalization in the United States. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Trustees of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have approved revisions of the standard master of divinity degree to take effect in August 2011. <BR><BR> Seminary President Chuck Kelley said the revised standard M.Div. offers a curriculum that is “tightly connected with the real world of ministry in the 21st century.” Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Thanks to a significant endowment given by Howard and Josephine Raney of Brevard County, the North American Mission Board’s KALEO Network will award four $1,000 Raney Memorial Scholarships in 2011 and up to 10 scholarships each year beginning in 2012 to students planning to attend a Southern Baptist college, university or seminary for the purpose of answering God’s call to the ministry or to the mission field. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Less than two months after facing a controversy over the departure of a lesbian soccer coach, Belmont University’s trustees Jan. 26 added “sexual orientation” to the school’s nondiscrimination policy, a landmark move that is being criticized as a major departure from its Christian founding. Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—R. Albert Mohler Jr. believes the theory of evolution “represents one of the greatest challenges to Christian faith and faithfulness in our times,” and he has found himself at the center of a controversy over the compatibility of evolution and Christian theology. <BR><BR> The dialogue began last summer when Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered an address titled “Why Does the Universe Look So Old?” at the Ligonier Ministries 2010 National Conference, during which he mentioned The BioLogos Foundation, a movement founded by Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Theistic evolutionists argue that evangelicals must accept the theory of evolution in order to be taken seriously by the scientific community, but R. Albert Mohler Jr. says that even perhaps the most prominent theistic evolutionist finds it hard to gain acceptance among his scientific peers. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell will propose new strategy, new vice presidents and a staff reorganization when he meets with NAMB trustees at a board meeting scheduled for Feb. 9 in Alpharetta, Ga. The meeting comes almost exactly five months after trustees voted to call Ezell as the entity’s president last Sept. 14. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 TALLADEGA, Ala. (BP)—Southern Baptists gave $54.3 million to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in 2010—a $2.3 million or 4 percent decline compared to the 2009 total of $56.6 million. The amount for 2010 is not yet audited. Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 For more than a half century Southern Baptist ministry with the African American community was characterized largely by a “Baptist Plessy vs. Ferguson”. This “separate but equal” approach was facilitated by two major dynamics that significantly impacted the church community: The culture of the time and the organizing and ascendancy of ... African American national denominations provided an alternative to the Southern Baptist Convention, which was not ready for racial equality. Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 HOMESTEAD (FBC)—Walk into Homestead’s Flagship Cinemas on an early Sunday afternoon and you instantly inhale the aroma of buttered popcorn as movie buffs stream in to catch the latest box office draw. Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—At their Jan. 21 meeting trustees for the Baptist College of Florida welcomed four new members to their board: Kenric Conway, pastor of the Family of God Baptist Church in Panama City; Dozier Johnson, member of Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee; Jimmy Legg, pastor of Mayo Baptist Church in Mayo; and Doug Medlin, member of Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville. <BR><BR> Members of the board were elected last November by messengers to the Florida Baptist State Convention for a 3-year term. “Membership on the Board is usually balanced with pastors or other church staff and lay members,” according to BCF President, Thomas Kinchen. “This gives us a strong perspective of Baptist life. These new members represent a strong commitment to our Lord and the mission of the College.” Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (BCF)—The 93 people arriving at the inaugural service at The Church@The Lake in Leesburg Jan. 9 were part of a plan. Meeting at a chapel on the campus of sprawling Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, the targeted crowd of those 55 and over met at 5 p.m. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The number of commitments by African youth to biblical purity through True Love Waits International stands at more than 959,000 since LifeWay Christian Resources launched its strategic initiative there in summer 2007. Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Trinity Baptist Church—Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 28: 18-20 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—How do you change the world? One student at a time, as John Bailey sees it. <br><br> “That’s a 20-year-old statement, but we still see that it’s true, probably even more so with this generation,” said Bailey, who leads the student volunteer mobilization team for the North American Mission Board. “We wake up every day with this picture that students can change the world and it all comes about by what God can do through them. Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The Jacksonville City Parks and Recreation Department has invited Florida Baptist mission teams to work in 25 of its “at risk” communities. According to Nick Phoenix, pastor of North Main Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville, the city has asked for camp and sports outreach programs at its community centers. <BR><BR> Phoenix, who heads up the Words to Works Ministry, said the “at risk” areas in the city are problem-filled, with “just kids hanging out, looking to get into trouble.” Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida will open the doors of the Graceville campus Friday, March 11 for Preview Day. The bi-annual event begins with registration in the R.G. Lee Chapel at 9 a.m. (CST) and gives prospective students and their families a glimpse into the life of a BCF student. <BR><BR> Prospective students and their guests will be welcomed by BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen as they enjoy a time of student-led praise and worship. Campus visitors will have the opportunity to learn about degree programs, gather financial aid information, and explore the library, writing center, and computer labs—and experience an array of student activities while touring the dorms and campus. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CAIRO (BP)--At first, it looked like there would be no reaction. Abdou Abdel-Monaam Hamadah, an Egyptian restaurant owner, set himself on fire Jan. 17 to protest bread prices.<br><br>In neighboring Tunisia, a demonstration like that brought down the whole government, but Hamadah's statement met with relative silence. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The turmoil in Egypt threatens to unleash chaos in a country long ruled by a dictator where militant Islam has been growing for years -- and the outcome is difficult to predict, two Southern Baptist observers said Jan. 31.<br> <br>Massive protests, at times violent, have rocked Egypt's major cities for nearly a week, partly inspired by successful democracy protests in neighboring Tunisia that drove that country's strongman from power. Over the weekend, police vanished from the cities and allowed mobs to pillage and loot at will, according to media reports. Gangs of armed men attacked at least four jails Jan. 30, freeing hundreds of Muslim radicals and criminals. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 CAIRO (BP)--Calls for a change in leadership have swelled into demonstrations and violent clashes in Egypt, two weeks after Tunisia's government toppled amid revolution.<br><br>Followers of Christ in Egypt are waiting prayerfully to see what implications these events will have on the spread of the Gospel in the region.<br><br>Egypt is the Arab world's most populous nation, with nearly 80 million people. The Arab Republic of Egypt is transcontinental, with a land bridge between Africa and Asia. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Gov. Mike Huckabee will speak Feb. 15 in Orlando on behalf of a faith-based organization known for billboard, television and internet ads targeting women facing unwanted pregnancies. <BR><BR> Heroic Media, sponsors of the Feb. 15 event at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, place advertisements which provide help line numbers that connect women with pregnancy resource centers. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, and his son Jess Rainer have teamed up to write The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation, a book released in January by LifeWay’s B&H Publishing Group. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—In a move that could have a major impact on the tax status of churches and pastors nationwide, an independent national commission of religious and financial experts will review several church-related tax issues—such as the limitations of the pastoral housing allowance and the IRS’ power to investigate churches—and issue its recommendations to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Jerry L. Adkins, 79, retired pastor and director of missions, died Nov. 30 in Ruston, La. A graduate of Mississippi College in Clinton and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, Adkins served in Florida 1958-1994, as pastor of several churches and as director of missions of the Beulah-Swannee Baptist Association. Since 1994, Adkins served as interim pastor in 71 Louisiana churches, and led several stewardship campaigns. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Ruston at the time of his death. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 Walter C. Campbell, Sr., retired founding pastor of Bayview Baptist Church in Clearwater, died Dec. 28. He served as pastor of Bayview Baptist 35 years. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP)—David Tolliver, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention since February 2009, has resigned, according to an announcement by the convention Jan. 7. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP)—The Missouri Baptist Convention has won a key legal victory in its effort to recover the Missouri Baptist Foundation, one of five breakaway convention entities. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NAIROBI, Kenya (BP)–Nearly 99 percent of the southern Sudanese who voted in the referendum on independence have chosen to split from the Arab-dominated north, according to preliminary results reported Jan. 21. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released the following statement on the Jan. 9 start of the independence vote in southern Sudan: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 9 new churches in December, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes marked the one year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12 by lifting up the many needs of that country in prayer at all of their campus locations across the state. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In his new book, former President George W. Bush provides a behind-the-scenes look at his landmark 2001 decision that prohibited most forms of embryonic stem cell research, acknowledging that he knew very little about the issue when he first arrived in office but explaining how six months of research led him to a conclusion he believes will be vindicated by science and history. <br><br> Bush’s Decision Points, No. 1 on The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list, lays out 14 of the most significant decisions he believes shaped his life and his presidency. He devotes one of those chapters to his much-debated August 2001 decision that allowed federal money to be used for research only on embryonic stem cell lines that were in existence at the time of his speech. The decision prohibited federal dollars from going toward any lines created after that date. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—At least 10 Southern Baptists were sworn in for the first time Jan. 5 as members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Singer-songwriter Rebecca St. James, a longtime supporter of the True Love Waits abstinence movement, announced Jan. 3 that she is engaged to be married. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Billy Graham granted his first interview in several years Dec. 20, telling Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren that if he could do it over again, he would spend less time traveling and more time in meditation and prayer. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—George Beverly Shea, longtime soloist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in conjunction with the 2011 Grammy Awards. Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Last July the phone rang at the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes’ adoption offices in Lakeland. The young woman on the other end of the phone started asking questions about how to put a child up for adoption. Lindsay Harris, a social worker at the Children’s Homes, asked her if she was currently pregnant. The caller exclaimed: “I‘m at the hospital. I just had the baby this morning!” <BR><BR> “As unbelievable as it may sound, this young woman never knew that she was pregnant until she went to the hospital because of stomach pains,” Harris recalled.<BR><BR> “She arrived at the hospital at 2 a.m. because of abdominal pains and by 2:30 a.m. she had given birth to a healthy baby boy,” Harris said. <BR><BR> That one phone call begin a chain reaction that led Walt and Chelsea Dearie, who had been hoping for a child for more than seven years, to their adopted son, Liam. Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBW)—January is Sanctity of Human Life month, a time when many different organizations try to bring greater awareness to the ministry of saving unborn children who are at risk of being aborted. Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 BEIJING (BP)—Individuals in China are using various forms of media to communicate the pro-life message in the face of the country’s coercive abortion regime. Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—A special life-saving project using the movie “Bella” has reportedly resulted in 200 babies being saved from abortion as of late October. Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 MARIANNA (FBC)—Florida Baptist Convention retiree David McCormick died at his home in Marianna Dec. 27, following an extended illness. He was 69. Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Apple has rejected an iPhone/iPad “app” that had been resubmitted by signers of the Manhattan Declaration, further frustrating Christian leaders who fear the controversy signals a growing societal intolerance of orthodox Christianity. Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Russ Smith knew something was wrong … very wrong. He didn’t need to be a rocket scientist (literally) to figure that out. The sound of rockets should never be heard from your teenage son’s bedroom. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WAUCHULA (FCA)—Two of four individuals inducted into the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions for 2010 are Floridians Ken Smith of Wauchula, and James “Jim” Scroggins III of Apopka. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Ann Denson proudly showed Director of Missions David Drake the certificate she received after graduating from the minister of education training sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention’s African-American Ministries Division. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) announced recently his senatorial papers and other memorabilia from his 16 months of service in the U.S. Senate will be archived in Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Warren Library. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The day that so many hopeful students long for as they embark on their college journey finally arrived for 50 seniors at The Baptist College of Florida Dec. 10. Fall commencement exercises began with the traditional graduate processional “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by BCF professor of piano Buford Cox. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—A synchronized rendition of “Angels We Have Heard on High” performed by professors Buford Cox and Angela Glover ushered in the Christmas Festival of Music in the R. G. Lee Chapel at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, bringing the story of Christmas to life. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CUMMING, Ga. (BP)—Joe Donahue lay awake in terror that night. <BR><BR> From his sleeping bag on the floor of his parents’ trailer, his 8-year-old ears were flooded with the sounds of destruction: His drunken father’s screaming, things smashing, breaking and shattering in the kitchen, and his mother’s sobbing. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Several thousand teen girls and collegiate young women will gather for Blume, a four-day focus on missions, next July at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 9 new churches in November, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALBANY, Ga. (BP)—“Courageous,” the next film from the makers of “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants,” will be released Sept. 30, 2011, according to its distributor. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (BP)—Rich and Melissa Sivernell are learning that even though metro Denver is less than a thousand miles from Flower Mound, Texas, it’s a very different world. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—One-third of the North American Mission Board’s staff will be leaving at the end of the year as a result of retirement incentives and other downsizing of the Southern Baptist entity. On Dec. 10, NAMB recognized retirees who are taking advantage of incentives they were offered at the beginning of October. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—More than 175 crisis pregnancy center executive directors and staff from 13 states—some having logged years in opposing abortion—attended “The Invitation Stands” National Pregnancy Center Conference at the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—The challenges and opportunities smaller Southern Baptist churches might embrace to reach their communities with the Gospel was the focus of a Small Church and Bivocational Pastors Missional Initiative Dialogue at the North American Mission Board. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 OAKLAND, Calif. (BP)—Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow, one of the most visible Christians in college football history, threw for one touchdown and rushed for another in the first start of his NFL career Dec. 19, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Oakland Raiders. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BANGKOK (BP)—It’s Sunday morning and Arti, 29, smiles as he teaches Bible verses to a class full of children at Bangkok’s Church of Blessing. Slight in build and neatly dressed, he doesn’t look like a man who spent five years in prison for a drug conviction. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 UDMURTIA (IMB)—Charlie and Heather Murphy* met Will and Marie Thompson* while attending seminary in Texas. The two couples discovered a mutual desire to share God’s love with the nations. Little did they know that God had a plan to send them to engage the same unreached people group in the Republic of Udmurtia, a small country west of Siberia. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PRAGUE (BP)—Never underestimate the difference one person can make. <BR><BR> Mark and Vesta Sauter came to the Czech Republic to start churches among the nation’s 50,000 Deaf. But the missionaries weren’t seeing a lot of interest until God brought them an unlikely volunteer—90-year-old Lillian Beard. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NORTH AFRICA (BP)—They broke in at night to finish the job they’d begun weeks earlier. A group of Muslim radicals poured gasoline over everything inside the Kabylie church—chairs, Bibles, equipment—and then set it ablaze. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Her pain, grief and sadness from more than a decade ago lie just below the surface. Gloria Sloan remembers the spiritual darkness that enveloped her on that heartbreaking day. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Noel Halbert (Hal) Fletcher Jr., senior pastor of Ridgewood Baptist Church in Orange Park, died Dec. 16. He was a native Floridian, and a graduate of Mississippi College in Clinton, where he played football, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Mid-America Baptist Seminary in Memphis, Tenn. He served as pastor and children’s pastor of four churches. Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6) covers every area of a child’s development—emotional, physical, mental, spiritual and social. In the 21st century, technology has the potential to influence children in all of those ways. Here are some tips for guiding children in responsible, God-pleasing use of technology (adapted from Vicki Courtney’s book Logged-on and Tuned-out). Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBW) -- Evangelical leader Charles Colson will be the keynote speaker at a Jan. 4 prayer breakfast, one of the events being held for the inauguration of Gov.-elect Rick Scott, News Service of Florida reported Dec. 16. Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)—Tim Yarbrough of the North American Mission Board was elected as editor of the Arkansas Baptist News by the ABN board of directors Nov. 18. <br><br> Yarbrough, 50, has been NAMB’s Acts 1:8 challenge coordinator since 2002. He will become ABN editor effective Jan. 1, succeeding Charlie Warren, who is retiring after 11 years as editor. Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Pope Benedict XVI caused a stir when he made some casual comments about condoms in an interview with a German journalist, leading some to question whether the Vatican has altered its stance on birth control. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—Intelligent Design proponent William Dembski and famed atheist Christopher Hitchens disputed the existence of a benevolent God in a recent debate now posted on the website of Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. <BR><BR> The debate was hosted in the worship center of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Nov. 18. A full video archive can be viewed at www.pcawebcast.com/2010debate. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—A major evangelical organization which supports a complementarian position on manhood and womanhood says the newest translation of the NIV Bible is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the TNIV, although the group says it still cannot endorse it because it contains many of the same problems. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Greg Thornbury teaches Old and New Testament survey courses to some of the brightest students from some of the most respected churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—They’re a young couple. Their first child arrived this year. A whole life lies ahead. <BR><BR> During these difficult economic times, maybe the smart thing to do is settle down, search for stable jobs and save for the future. Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LUSAKA, Zambia (IMB)—No one in the clinic’s waiting room is smiling—except Anna Banda. <BR><BR> She chats happily with people at the Circle of Hope clinic on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia. There are few—if any—empty seats as they wait to be tested and treated for AIDS. Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Damon B. Walker, pastor emeritus of Fist Baptist Church in Belleview, died at his home in Belleview Nov. 28. He was 85. Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—He was stretched out on the bench in the gazebo at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville as most students rushed by to make their 8 a.m. classes. Visibly out of place, the stranger had long disheveled hair, layered camouflaged clothes, and a backpack near his side. He was all by himself. Alone. Experiencing the first cold snap of the season, one BCF student offered what looked to be a homeless bum warmth in the student center. Another offered the man hot coffee and food, and struck up a conversation with him. He was given a Gospel tract explaining the plan of salvation by a professor and two students. Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—On a cloudy Monday morning, students and faculty at The Baptist College of Florida filled the R.G. Lee Chapel before the announcement for the winner of the student preaching award. Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Glenn J. Pollock, who served as North Florida Regional director for the African American-Ministries Division from 2005-2007, died Dec. 7. He was 48. Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BOONE, N.C. (FBW)—Operation Christmas Child is partnering with the upcoming film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” set for release Dec. 10. Through this partnership, Narnia fans will be encouraged to participate in the world’s largest Christmas project by packing shoe box gifts that will make a difference in the lives of needy children, according to a press release. Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (BP)—Excuses were flowing through Jason Palmer’s mind as quickly as the rain dripping through his tent: I won’t make enough money. I don’t know enough theology. I don’t want to live overseas. My parents will be upset. I can’t learn a new language. Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—“If Sunday School isn’t good, isn’t worth the time, how can we expect people to come back?” <br><br> It’s a crucial question, said Art Groomes, one of the speakers at the National Black Sunday School Conference sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Many of the 1 million children who experience divorce each year will not receive the spiritual guidance needed to help overcome the related family challenges, the current issue of Reconsider, a LifeWay Christian Resources publication for leaders of today’s black churches, points out in an issue titled, “Ministering to Children of Divorce.” Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took the opportunity of the federal government’s latest International Religious Freedom Report to speak out for a broad view of religious liberty, pleasing a bipartisan panel that had questioned the Obama administration’s commitment to the issue. <br><br> The State Department issued its annual report on global religious liberty Nov. 17, specifying the many abuses—along with some improvements—among 198 countries. Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the country’s leading provider of abortions, continues to be in the news—often in a negative light. According to recent reports: Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—An advertising campaign designed to help people focus on Christ at Christmas will portray an ultrasound scan of the Son of God in His mother’s womb on British billboards in December despite criticism it promotes an anti-abortion message. Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Five individuals and an organization were named Nov. 15 to receive “Life Prizes” for pro-life achievements. The recipients, who will share the $600,000 in prize money, are: Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—“When a young woman is facing a crisis pregnancy she often feels that there is no hope and no choice but to terminate her unborn child. However, the ministry of pregnancy resource centers are providing hope to these young women and are successfully leading them to the life-affirming decision to either parent their child or to place them for adoption,” said Mary Lou Hendry, director of Sanctity of Human Life for the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. <BR><BR> Hendry described the critical role that pregnancy resource centers play in preventing abortions and sharing the Gospel message at the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes’ annual Sound the Call conference, titled For His Glory, Oct.7-9 at Lake Yale Conference Center in Leesburg. Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—During 40 Days for the Fatherless, a campaign to promote Orphan Sunday, people were asked to pray for the more than 140 million orphaned children around the world. Orphan’s Heart asked people to pray specifically for the many needs of the Children’s Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Guatemala. Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 18 new churches in October, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Brevard Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Four employees of the Florida Baptist Convention were recognized with Resolutions of Appreciation by messengers to the annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention meeting in Brandon, Nov. 8-9. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Music and Worship Division Chair Bill Davis and the combined choirs and orchestra of The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville are busy rehearsing for the much anticipated Christmas Festival of Music. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Leaders from The Baptist College of Florida joined with board members of the Tri-County Airport Authority and the BR Chamberlain Foundation for Public Enrichment Oct. 29 for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Tri-County Airport in Bonifay. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BCF celebrates Homecoming Nov. 2 with dinner on the grounds and an afternoon of sharing memories. The annual Fall Revival and Homecoming, Nov. 1-3 brought alumni to the campus to hear trustee chair Craig Conner, pastor, First Baptist Church, Panama City, speak in the services. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (BP)--Citing unprecedented economic challenges facing the Executive Committee, Frank Page, president and chief executive officer of the EC since Oct. 1, announced structural and staffing changes on the Executive Committee staff in two memos sent to Executive Committee members on Nov. 17 and Nov. 29. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKE CITY (FBC)—An enormous white tent emblazoned with blue crosses stood atop a grassy hill on Hwy 41 in Citrus County—halfway between Inverness and Homosassa Springs— beckoning sinner and saint with the promise of an old time revival. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A Nov. 12 open letter calling Southern Baptists to observe a “solemn assembly” day of prayer in January declared that Americans “live in desperate times” and need “a heal-the-land kind of blessing” from God. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The full text of the Great Commission Council letter follows: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Southern Baptists are being called to “solemn assembly” in January 2011—a time of seeking God in prayer and repentance—by key leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—In preparation for the SBC Day of Prayer in January, the North American Mission Board has launched a website with resources to help Southern Baptists answer the call to prayer. Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise you (Psalm 67:3, NIV) <br><br> It’s a beautiful vision: People who speak Kirmanjki and Kabyle, Thai and Tatar, and use sign language in Czech—all knowing and praising God. It’s a vision that comes closer to being realized every year as Christians seek unreached people groups to tell them the story of Jesus. Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Dramatic gains in the mid-term election have given pro-life advocates hope they can advance favorable legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives in the next congressional session, though the Senate and White House likely still would stand as roadblocks to enactment. Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (IMB)—When Osvier Acosta Ferrero, 72, and Ricardo Tadeo Soria Perez, 58, peddle down dirt roads on their bicycles, they’re not out for exercise. They’re praying for Cubans who need Christ. <BR><BR> These Cuban Baptists sing hymns as they cycle for miles, traveling to rural communities to lead Bible studies. “If someday God sends us to another country, we’ll go,” Osvier says. “We have the joy of evangelization, always asking God for wisdom, a love for people and the joy of proclaiming His Word.” Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBC)—Messengers to the Florida Baptist State Convention in Brandon Nov. 9 approved the following nominations. Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Photo Gallery Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Judith Jolly of Dade City accepts the Florida Baptist Historical Society Heritage Award during the Tuesday afternoon session. She is honored for her distinguished contributions to historical research including an extensive group of biographies of Baptist preachers and histories of several North Florida churches. Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Edgar R. Cooper, Ph.D., died November 14, 2010, just one day short of his 92nd birthday. Born in Ojus (now a neighborhood of Miami), FL, on November 15, 1918, and growing up in Ft. Pierce, Dr. Cooper was a native Floridian whose family were long-time south Florida residents, moving to the state when it was still a territory. He was the son of Wilbur Lucius Cooper and Eula Iverine Daniel Cooper, descendants of a long line of farmers and appreciators of the land. Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 <b>UPDATE: Nov 16, 2:45 p.m.</b><br><br>JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Edgar Cooper, editor emeritus of the Florida Baptist Witness, died Nov. 14 at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville. He died one day shy of his 92nd birthday.<br><br>Cooper served as pastor and interim pastor of several Florida churches and also served as president of the Florida Baptist State Convention. He was editor of the Florida Baptist Witness 1970-1983. Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Over 150 gathered for the official opening and dedication of The Mills Center for Missions and Evangelism Oct. 8 at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville. Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Four high school teens have been tapped as 2010-11 Florida Acteens State Advisory panelists. Those selected are Zoé Dennis, New Home Baptist Church in Lakeland; Samantha Jackson, Woodlawn Baptist Church in Johnson; Hanna McCrillis, First Baptist Church in Interlachen; and Andrea Niles, Fifth Street Baptist Church in Key West. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—With the tripling of the U.S. Hispanic population since 1980—from 15 million to nearly 47 million today, or 16 percent of the U.S. population—the SBC Hispanic Consortium continues to focus on the challenge of sharing Christ with this largely unreached people group. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention and the Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference will be available both during the meetings and following the event. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Between Jan. 12 and Sept. 30, 2010, Florida Baptists, Southern Baptists and Haitian Baptists of the Confraternite Missionaire Baptiste d’Haiti (CMBH) partnered to give hope to Haiti. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Hamit Kaya’s* ministry has a distinct rhythm: tea before medicine, medicine before words. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Palm Beach Atlantic University senior Kristina Webb received the 2010 President’s Award during the 10th annual Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference Oct. 7-9 in Nashville, Tenn. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LOS ANGELES (BP)—In his first missionary commissioning sermon as the new president of the North American Mission Board, Kevin Ezell told 62 missionaries and chaplains to “stay focused and stay faithful” as they begin their new ministries throughout the United States and Canada. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LOS ANGELES (BP)—Kevin Ezell, attending his inaugural North American Mission Board trustee meeting as NAMB’s new president Oct. 20 in Los Angeles, noted that while “we’re thankful for what NAMB has achieved in the past, it’s now time to do more. We must do more because the lostness of America demands it.” Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW) -- The Imagine If Great Commission Resurgence Task Force released to Florida Baptist Witness on Oct. 29 the final version of its report to be presented Nov. 9 at the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting at First Baptist Church in Brandon. Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)–A Dallas Morning News columnist failed to report the full story when he criticized Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, of being “uninformed, un-Christian or un-American,” Jeffress told his congregation. Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBW)—For the fifth year, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” Christmas lawn signs will appear near homes and businesses in Florida and in several other states. According to Boyd Pridmore, founder of the project, the signs are now available for purchase. Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Ray Aker* couldn’t believe his ears. The Oklahoma native had spent the past two years sharing Jesus in a rural area of China without seeing a single salvation—until now. Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention and the Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference will be available both during the meetings and following the event. Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—Proponents of the Word of Faith movement teach a heresy that wrecks the lives of many suffering Christians, evangelist Justin Peters said during a series of lectures at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Studio Recital Class at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, led by Professor Kimberly Moon, recently visited and entertained residents who live at the Graceville Nursing Center. <BR><BR> The idea came about through Moon’s personal experience with her mother who has lived in a nursing facility for more than a year. Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will perform at the Graceville campus Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. and the concert is open to the public at no charge. For tickets, please call 800-328-2660, ext. 418, or visit the school’s website at baptistcollege.edu. Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The faculty and staff at The Baptist College of Florida will open the doors of the Graceville campus Nov. 12 for Preview Day. The bi-annual event begins with registration in the R.G. Lee Chapel at 9 a.m. (CST) and is designed to give prospective students and their families a glimpse into the life of a BCF student. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT LAUDERDALE (FBW)—The former Flamingo Road Church that began in Ft. Lauderdale has changed its name to Potential Church. The new name was revealed amid balloons and confetti in a church service Oct. 10. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 EDITOR’S NOTE: The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering supplements Cooperative Program giving to support more than 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries as they share the Gospel overseas. This year’s offering goal is $175 million. The 2010 focus is on celebrating what God has done in recent years, praising Him for allowing Southern Baptists to be a part of His work, while emphasizing that reaching those who remain untouched by the Gospel is a doable task, but these will be the hardest people groups to reach—requiring that believers pray, go, partner and give as never before. The 2010 Week of Prayer for International Missions is Nov. 28-Dec. 5. To find resources about the offering, go to imb.org/offering. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 300 words. Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptists through the Cooperative Program are reaching the state, the nation and the world with the Great Commission. Thank you, Cooperative Program pacesetter churches for leading the way in the state while giving through the Great Commission strategies of the Florida Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention. Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Following tradition, Southern Baptist seminary convocations marked the start of another academic semester. <BR><BR> Fall convocation reports from the six SBC seminaries follow: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—China will have, by 2020, 40 million more men than women under the age of 20—a number equal to the current total of men under the age of 20 in the United States, Chinese population experts are projecting. Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 OTTAWA (BP)—A Canadian court decision overturning the nation’s anti-prostitution laws will lead to an increase in human trafficking and violence against women if it stands, Christians in the country and other like-minded groups warn. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—After joining the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 2009, students at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville were not only excited about the new athletic programs available, but also enamored by the first mascot in the history of the school, the eagle. <BR><BR> Based on the scripture verse found in Isaiah 40:31, which says: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint,” the eagle was a perfect fit for the BCF mascot. The only thing missing was an appropriate name for the eagle mascot. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Abortion clinics in two states have closed, according to media reports. <br><br> Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey has shut down its Cherry Hill family planning clinic in a dispute over state funding, while a Maryland abortion clinic is closing after its operator’s medical license was suspended. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Florida Ministers Wives will receive fresh ideas and inspiration in home, family and food during the annual Florida Baptist Convention Ministers’ Wives Luncheon Nov. 9 at First Baptist Church in Brandon, host site of the Florida Baptist State Convention. <BR><BR> The theme of the annual gathering of ministers’ wives is “Delightful Dwellings,” based on Psalm 37:4. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Extreme Missions 2010, a missions event for boys and girls in grades 1-6 and their leaders, will be held Nov. 13 at First Baptist Church in Chipley. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 New River Baptist Association, with offices in Starke, has called Elmer Vogelsang as director of missions. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Additional related meetings for the 2010 Florida Baptist State Convention have been announced. Some time and place corrections have also been made. Please review the list for your specific meeting. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started seven new churches in September, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP)—She didn’t go anywhere without her house shoes. <BR><BR> Sheri Shockey’s wide feet fit in nothing but her blue men’s slippers. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SWEETWATERS, South Africa (BP)—Hlengiwe is but 14 years old, yet she is the head of her household, taking care of her seven younger brothers, sisters and cousins. Her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are all dead from AIDS. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SANTIAGO, Chile (BP)—Bible studies, Christian music and Adrian Rogers sermons were part of the Chilean miners’ remaining days below the earth as they awaited rescue. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LOS ANGELES (BP)—Most moviegoers would struggle to connect Southern Baptist church life with a major theatrical release. But in the case of Randall Wallace, the time he spent in SBC churches in his youth is directly related to his current success. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Pam Tebow, mother of Denver Bronco Tim Tebow, is the featured speaker for the Second Annual Stories of Hope event Sat. Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Touchdown Club of Everbank Field. <BR><BR> The event will benefit Emergency Pregnancy Services of Jacksonville and the evening includes dinner and music. Tickets are $25 and $15 for Junior patrons (35 and under). Table sponsorships are available. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORANGE PARK (FBW)—The teenage children of an Orange Park pastor are working through Team Backpack to ensure that every child in Clay County has enough to eat. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Telling North American Mission Board staff “considerable change” is coming, President Kevin Ezell shared a retirement incentive with employees that will be the beginning of an overall reduction in force in the months ahead. Details of the incentives were shared at a meeting Thursday, Sept. 30. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Volunteers at Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville striped the church poles just before an event promoting breast cancer awareness near their downtown San Marcos location Oct. 16. Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—“God wants us to aim higher,” Derwin Gray, a former NFL player for the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, told 400-plus youth workers at a national conference sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Displaying deep love and concern for those who have not heard the Gospel, The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville will again open its doors for a special Missions Conference Oct. 25-27. <br><br> The conference allows students, faculty members, and the general public to meet and connect with organizational representatives from a number of worldwide missions organizations. Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Administrators and faculty at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, in an attempt to address ethics and morality in the marketplace during a meltdown of the national and international economy, have announced a new bachelor or arts in business leadership. Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RENO, Nev. (BP)—Nevada Southern Baptists will vote in October on a proposal to merge their state convention and four associations into one entity and increase their Cooperative Program missions giving by two-thirds over the next five years. <br><br> The chairman of the task force bringing that recommendation said it is an ‘“out of the box’” response to ‘“stark choices’” facing the state’s 179 churches and mission congregations. Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The consensus evident at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s annual trustee meeting is that the United States is in dire straits and facing an uncertain future, but the matter at hand was what Southern Baptists will do about it. Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (NSF/FBW) -- Although the state’s Department of Children and Families doesn’t plan to appeal a court ruling declaring unconstitutional the state’s ban on homosexual adoption, Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday that he is still considering such action. Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Choose Life license plates have been on Florida roads 10 years, raising more than $7.4 million for pregnancy care centers, maternity homes and non-profit adoption agencies. <BR><BR> The Florida Choose Life tag is the ninth most popular among 113 plates currently available, according to a news release. Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRANFORD (FBW)—Children’s leaders at Hatch Bend Baptist Church near Branford, in an effort to expand the children’s ministries, offered a Vacation Bible School this summer that led seamlessly into an every-Sunday-night learning time. Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Southern Baptists have been given a tremendous opportunity to help literally fulfill the Great Commission in their lifetime, but it will take a “radical reprioritization” of priorities to make it happen, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention told trustees of the SBC Executive Committee Sept. 21. <br><br> “With the passion of the young adult Christians of today, with the modern means of travel, with the modern technology, God has given us an opportunity to fulfill His Great Commission in our lifetime,” Bryant Wright said. “The question we have to ask is, even though our denomination will just be one part of His Kingdom enterprise, are we as Southern Baptists going to be willing to pay the price—the radical price—to do what it takes to see that the Gospel is taken to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts in our lifetime?” Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Bryant Wright was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June, and recently he provided comments to Baptist Press regarding his new role and various elements of his ministry as pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In appreciation for his service, Morris H. Chapman was named to the honorary position of president emeritus of the Executive Committee and was presented the M.E. Dodd Award for Cooperative Program support during a retirement dinner Sept. 20 in Nashville, Tenn. <BR><BR> “Dr. Chapman, no entity leader has been a greater ambassador for the Cooperative Program and its promotion convention-wide than you,” Roger Spradlin, chairman of the Executive Committee, told Chapman. Throughout his tenure as pastor of four churches over a span of 25 years and as president of the Executive Committee for 18 years, Chapman led the way in his support of Southern Baptists’ method for funding missions, Spradlin said. Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—When Frank Page was a child, his parents were not Christians, but God used an older couple, Raymond and Elsie Hampton, to draw him to Christ, Page said as he recounted some formative influences on his path to the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 “…See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut...” Revelation 3:8 (NIV) Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Primary Facilities for Meetings: First Baptist Church is located at 216 North Parsons Ave., Brandon; Embassy Suites Hotel is located at 10220 Palm River Rd., Brandon Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Nominations and appointments to state boards and committees have been announced by the Committee on Nominations in preparation for the Florida Baptist State Convention in Brandon, Florida, November 8-9, 2010. Messengers to the convention will be asked to vote on the nominations, but the appointments are not subject to actions by the convention. Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The following recommendations, which are to be presented to the Florida Baptist State Convention, November 8-9, 2010, by the State Board of Missions, will require changes in the Bylaws of the state convention, and therefore must be published in the Witness 30 days in advance. Revisions to the Bylaws require a majority vote at one session. Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention finished its Oct. 1 - Sept. 30 fiscal year 6.18 percent below budget, while Cooperative Program receipts for the year were down 4.03 percent and combined CP and designated giving for the year was down 2.52 percent, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Paula Bailey knew Vacation Bible School functions as an important outreach event for many churches. <br><br> She knew VBS is one of the most significant evangelistic activities a church can do. Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Palm Beach Atlantic University hosts its annual President’s Distinguished Scholar Lecture in October with Philip Jenkins, professor of humanities at Pennsylvania State University and award-winning scholar of religious and cultural history. Jenkins’ lecture, The Future Faces of Christianity, is free and open to the public Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in PBA’s DeSantis Family Chapel. Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)—Few conferences begin as early as Black Church Week. The early praise service began at 6:15 a.m., before breakfast or even coffee. <BR><BR> Few go as late either. Evening preaching ended about 9:30 p.m., with ice cream closing out the day at the Nibble Nook at the LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)—At East End Baptist Church, January Bible Study is a big event. <BR><BR> “I get more people who start off the year in January Bible Study (JBS) than any other time,” said Mark Croston, senior pastor of the Suffolk, Va., congregation. “I guess they just want to start the year off right.” Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Leaders from Black churches across the nation will gather in Nashville Oct. 22-23 for the National Black Sunday School Conference at LifeWay Christian Resources. The training event is designed “to help strengthen Sunday Schools and to address issues within the context of traditions and culture of the Black Church,” according to a LifeWay press release. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PENGLAI, China (BP)—A Chinese pastor and his wife were slain Aug. 31 at Penglai Christian Church, where Lottie Moon, an icon of Southern Baptist mission work, served in the early 1900s in Penglai, China. <BR><BR> Pastor Qin Jia Ye and his wife Hong En He, both in their 80s, were killed in the church’s office on Wednesday. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (BP)—Buddhist extremists detained eight Chakma Christians, members of a Baptist church in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, for four days in August. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NAGOYA, Japan (BP)—Wang Lee, 80, and his wife Rose, 72, rarely agree on anything. From their modest home in Nagoya, Japan, where the two serve among the homeless, they argue playfully back and forth. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Baptists in Israel will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Baptist work in the Holy Land with a May 12-14, 2011, event in Nazareth, the Association of Baptist Churches in Israel announced Aug. 25. Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Planned Parenthood recorded nearly 20,000 more abortions and not even half as many adoption referrals in 2008, according to a new report. <br><br> The fact sheet released from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) showed its affiliates performed 324,008 abortions in 2008, the latest year for which statistics have been reported by the organization. PPFA reported doing 305,310 abortions in 2007. The 2007 total was an increase from 2006, when the country’s leading abortion provider reported 289,750 of the procedures. Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The Maryland Board of Physicians suspended another abortion doctor’s medical license Sept. 8, soon after it took similar action against three other abortion providers. Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The state of Louisiana revoked the abortion facility license of a Shreveport clinic Sept. 3, making it the first one to face closure under a law enacted earlier this year. Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The 40 Days for Life campaign that began Sept. 22 will have the most locations in its short history. Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Black pro-life leaders have called on President Obama and Congress to remember unborn children when they seek to revitalize the economy. Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)—Executive leadership of LifeWay Christian Resources reported that the Southern Baptist en­tity is positioned for continued health and growth despite the economic downturn that has affected how churches and individuals select resources for spiritual growth and discipleship. <br><br> The leaders presented their reports during LifeWay trustees’ Sept. 13-14 semiannual meeting at LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Over 200 students arrived at The Baptist College of Florida Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. for new student orientation, marking the third year for a record number of first time students. <br><br>A record 600 students, including 17 enrolled in the new masters program, began classes this fall. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida announced the members of it’s NCCAA golf team after tryouts Aug. 28. Senior Ryan Kirk from Colquitt, Ga., was the low scorer with a 36-hole score of 168. He was followed closely by sophomore Jacob Patillo from Clayton, Ala., at 172 and freshman Justin Rickerd from Live Oak at 174. Other players making the team were Robert Govoni, Garrett Durham, Caleb McGee, and Nathan Dobbs. The team is scheduled to play in four tournaments this fall against NCCAA Southeast Region schools. Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Reports from several Southern Baptist entities include the testimony of a former minister of education in Panama City who now works for LIfeWay Christian Resources, and the election of a seminary president to lead a scholarly organization dedicated to defending the faith. Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—The first person North American Mission Board employees saw at the front door of the building on Wednesday morning was NAMB’s newest employee, who greeted each of them with a smile and a handshake. It was the mission board’s new president, Kevin Ezell. <br><br> Later that afternoon (Sept. 15), despite a sudden bout with laryngitis, Ezell met with NAMB’s 250-member staff. While he couldn’t say much, Ezell made them laugh and briefly outlined his vision for NAMB. Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (BP)—Before trustees of the North American Mission Board called Kevin Ezell as its new president this month, NAMB trustees and senior staff hosted 500 state convention leaders July 25, offering initial assessments on the impact of Great Commission Resurgence Task Force recommendations adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in June. Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is launching a special campaign titled 40 Days for the Fatherless with Joy FM radio in order to help raise awareness of the plight of orphaned and disadvantaged children in Florida and throughout the world. Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes continues to strengthen its online presence and recently counted over 2,000 fans on its Facebook page, a significant accomplishment in the field of social media. Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—The Destin LifeWay Christian Store will celebrate its grand opening Sept. 25 - Oct. 23. Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MARIETTA, Ga. (BP)—Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright is challenging individual churches around the convention to set record goals for this year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville welcomed BCF graduate Danny Crosby, senior pastor at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in High Springs, to chapel services Aug. 17 to make a special presentation to BCF President Thomas A. Kinchen in honor of Rev. William “Dub” Anderson. <br><br>In recognition of Anderson’s faithful service and unwavering Christian walk, Mt. Pleasant established a $5000 scholarship in his honor. The church wanted to advance Anderson’s commitment to spreading the Gospel of Christ by giving aid to other young men and women who answered God’s call to the ministry. Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Heeding the message in “Follow the Man,” a musical favorite that he sang while a member of the Male Chorale at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Grace­ville, Barol Bailey has followed God’s direction to serve as an admissions counselor recruiting men and women preparing for areas of ministry and service. Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CRAWFORDVILLE—A Missions Jamboree for girls grades 1-6 and their leaders, set for Oct. 2 at First Baptist Church in Crawfordville, will offer international and North American missionaries and volunteers as speakers, creative missions and a ministry project. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SOUTHEAST ASIA (BP)—The Greyhound bus hisses to a stop and the door flaps open. Ethan Gillmore positions himself at the foot of the stairs so he can watch everyone file off. He’s looking for someone. <br><br> The shy 10-year-old glances down at the ground, embarrassed by the fact that his brown hair and fair skin makes him stand out in this crowd of Chinese. He tries to make himself smaller than his 4-foot, 9-inch frame. When someone looks his way, he tentatively holds up a red packet written in Mandarin. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Many of the visible marks left by Hurricane Katrina five years ago have been washed away by time and hard work, but the impact of the storm continues to affect New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Good mission projects don’t just happen. Following a few simple guidelines will help make the experience meaningful to on-mission volunteers as well as the people they serve. Here are fundamentals every church should consider when planning a mission trip.<br><br> • Leadership is the key to success. If the team leader is not on your church’s staff, recruit a volunteer from your membership to be trained and equipped to help lead. To be successful, this person should have a heart for missions, good organizational skills and the ability to work with and motivate others. The church’s team leader will take primary responsibility for project logistics, keeping everything on track and maintaining communication with the on-site project manager. Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SANTIAGO, Chile (BP)--Sean Michel smiled through his distinctive, foot-long beard as he slid the guitar strap over his shoulder and greeted the crowd at El Huevo nightclub with what little Spanish he knows. The former American Idol contestant and his band then erupted into the sounds of Mississippi Delta blues-rock.<br><br>But unlike other musicians who played that night, the Sean Michel band sang about every person's need for God and the salvation that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT MYERS (LC)-After a two-hour hearing Aug. 24 in the U.S. Courthouse in Fort Myers, Collier County School Board has agreed they would allow the distribution of Bibles during Religious Freedom Day on school campuses in Collier County. For years, the school board allowed World Changers to provide free Bibles to interested students by placing them on tables where students could voluntarily pick one up during non-instructional time. <br><br> At issue in the lawsuit was a more recent claim by school officials that that Bibles do not provide any educational benefit to the students and the distribution should stop. Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—A federal judge suspended funding of embryonic stem cell research by the Obama administration Aug. 23. Royce Lamberth, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the continued application of last year’s federal guidelines governing grants for research on stem cells taken from human embryos. The ruling means federal funds will not be provided for such experiments while the case proceeds in court. Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (LWCR) — B&H Publishing Group, the publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources, has named Andreas J. Köstenberger as director of acquisitions for its academic program. In a unique partnership, Köstenberger will continue to serve as director of Ph.D. Studies and professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. Kösten­berger also serves as editor of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS). Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 First Baptist Church in Dover will host the Sept. 25 Central Florida Sunday School Convention, “Extreme Makeover Sunday School Edition.” The meeting with the theme, “Bible Studies for Real Life” will feature a Bible Teaching Institute and teaching for age-group leaders. Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBW)—Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon will host its 12th annual Global Outreach Celebration (annual missions conference) Sept. 22-26 with 32 missionaries in attendance. Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Florida Baptist churches are being encouraged to join other Southern Baptist churches this fall for one “Big Day” to focus on the importance of every individual being prepared to share their faith. <br><br> Also known as Soul-Winning Commitment Day, the event can be customized with a variety of training opportunities, sermon ideas and other tools to reflect the needs of individual churches, according to David Burton, director of evangelism for the Florida Baptist Convention. Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Churches could face six-figure fines if they continue to use wireless microphones that operate within a spectrum the Federal Communications Commission has set aside for public safety entities. Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Setting up tents, moving rubble, and distributing food in Haiti were not part of the regular duties of Eron Green, who serves as the central division administrator for the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GAINESVILLE (FBW)—This weekend when University of Florida legend Tim Tebow returns to Florida to face the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars as a Denver Bronco, a new book Gators for God celebrates his Christian commitment along with another Heisman Trophy winning Gator, Danny Wuerffel and eight other Gators of distinction. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started 11 new churches in July, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GAINESVILLE (FBW) -- According to several news accounts, Terry Jones announced today that he will not go forward with plans to burn Qur’ans at Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville this Saturday. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA, Ga. (FBC)—The Florida Baptist Convention and David Burton, director of evangelism, captured two top evangelism awards given during the North American Mission Board’s summer senior leadership meeting, attended by some 500 state leaders July 25-29 in Atlanta. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBC)—Small group seminars, presentations and discussions on successful and effective church evangelism efforts will be highlighted during the Southeast Florida Evangelism Conference set this month in Broward and Dade counties. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville is making preparations for their annual Prayer Conference Sept. 13-15 in the R.G. Lee Chapel. In November, they will host the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Heather Mercer, who along with Dayna Curry was held captive by the Taliban for 105 days nine years ago, said the aid workers who were killed recently in Afghanistan were an example of what it means to love a forgotten people. <BR><BR> Mercer told Baptist Press she learned that 10 aid workers had been murdered in the mountains of Afghanistan, possibly by the Taliban, and as she watched sat shocked watching Fox News she realized they could have been friends from her time there. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors is rising slightly faster than inflation, but the mounting cost of benefits is forcing churches to provide fewer pastors with medical insurance. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Research indicates that members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at higher rates than most Americans, according to The New York Times. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)--Female workers in the Church of Scientology have been coerced into having abortions, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The recent nuptials of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky were a high-profile example of a growing trend in America: mixed-faith marriages. <BR><BR> Clinton identifies herself as a Methodist, but her new husband is Jewish, and their wedding included a pastor and a rabbi as well as the traditional Jewish “chuppah” and the breaking of a glass underfoot. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In what is called a throwback to the early Christian church, more Americans are choosing house churches over traditional worship centers. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A special two-month exhibit at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., is now open to honor longtime music and program director Cliff Barrows. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NORTH AFRICA (BP)—Ibrahim* wasn’t ready to die. He wasn’t ready to back down either. <br><br> For months, Islamic authorities had ignored the tiny house church he started with a handful of former Muslims in a dusty, desolate village on the outskirts of town. But the 26-year-old Arab farmer’s brazen evangelism had become a problem. The church was growing, and it was now turning too many heads and winning too many souls for authorities to overlook. Today, they’d come to end it. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NORTH AFRICA (BP)—Laila* lies motionless in the sweltering heat of a remote medical clinic poised at the edge of the Sahara Desert. <BR><BR> Black flies swarm the young mother’s face, feasting on the yellow infection that oozes from her eyes. An IV impales one of her arms; the other drapes limply over her swollen belly. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Join God where He is working.<br><br> That simple premise hasn't changed during the two-decade history of "Experiencing God," an interactive Bible study first published in 1990 that taught a radically God-centered way of life. Initially written by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, the material was revised and expanded in 2007 by Richard Blackaby, Henry Blackaby's son. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—A spontaneous Senate floor debate over the military’s policy on homosexual service became heated Aug. 5, with Republican Sen. John McCain calling its proposed repeal part of a Democratic “social agenda” and Democratic Sen. Carl Levin defending the repeal by saying it will honor military protocol. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 AGOURA HILLS, Calif. (BP)–Joni Eareckson Tada had a positive prognosis after breast cancer surgery in late June, according to her physician. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Four years ago, when BCF graduate and former trustee Richie Allen approached Thomas A. Kinchen, president of The Baptist College of Florida, about training men and women in Brazil for areas of ministry, he had no idea of what might happen. Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 POMPANO BEACH (BP)—A young woman working as a clerk at a cell phone store in Pompano Beach was able to persuade a man not to proceed with an attempted robbery by talking to him about Jesus. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (BP)—Unprecedented flooding in an area of Pakistan where people already struggle with great tragedy and hardship has prompted a Southern Baptist disaster relief response. <BR><BR> As many as 1,600 people are reported dead and another 20 million have been affected, the United Nations is reporting. As the heavy rains continue to fall, devastation and despair once again seem to have taken hold among the peoples of Pakistan. Stranded by floodwaters, many are grieving loved ones who have died while worrying about how they will care for their living. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (BP)—Gifts to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund and the General Relief Fund are helping survivors of the devastating floods in Pakistan: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Florida Baptists are getting out into their neighborhoods, in their own backyards, and in communities of their mission partners. They are taking Christ’s command to His disciples to heart, going out into their own highways and byways in search of the spiritually lost, the broken and needy. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBC)—Three evangelism conferences will be offered in three languages—English, Spanish and French Creole—at the Southeast Florida Evangelism Conference Sept. 17-20 in Broward and Dade counties. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—When it comes to religious freedom, people of the Muslim faith have the right to build mosques in America that are convenient to their communities under local standards, Richard Land told Warren Olney, host of Public Radio International’s “To the Point” radio broadcast Aug. 11. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP)—Rifqa Bary, the teenager who ran away from her Muslim parents after converting to Christianity, is free from the court battle that plagued her for more than a year because she turned 18 years old Aug. 10. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—As the Southern Baptist Convention’s two mission boards continue their respective searches for presidents, they are asking Southern Baptists to set aside Saturday, Aug. 28, as a day of prayer and fasting to ask God to direct the entities’ paths. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)— Four regional training events remain for Florida Baptists to involve women in what God is doing and get ideas on next year’s mission materials at the 2010 Equipping for Missions and Ministries Regional Training. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (LWCR)–VeggieTales is known for teaching kids lessons about God, values, and themselves. The newest release from Big Idea, “VeggieTales®: Sweetpea Beauty—A Girl After God’s Own Heart,” just out July 31, teaches a lesson that kids from two to ninety-two should watch. <br><br> Sweetpea Beauty is a fun—and sometimes hilarious—fairy ‘Veggie’ tale that will help young girls understand the real value of true beauty and that God loves them just as He made them, based upon I Samuel 16:7, “For the Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—First, a federal appeals court struck down the FCC’s broadcast indecency policy that regulated TV obscenities. Then, the former FCC chairman who enforced the policy said he has had a change of heart and now believes curse words on TV deserve “full First Amendment protection.” Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TAEJON, South Korea (BP)—Loud music, welcome cheers and high-fives greeted 166 middle and high school students to Centrifuge Korea, which for nearly 20 years has ministered to students from U.S. military bases and international schools in South Korea, Japan, Australia and the Philippines. Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (FBC)—Learn how hearts are transformed through the power of reading and writing at the State Literacy Missions Conference Sept. 9-11 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—A few packed boxes line the back wall of Jerry Rankin’s office at the International Mission Board (IMB) in preparation for his retirement as president on Aug. 1. <br><br> After 17 years as IMB president—and 23 more on the mission field—Rankin and the 164-year-old organization are not strangers to transition and change. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started six new churches in June, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC)—Florida Baptist Theological Education, working in partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and The Baptist College of Florida, has released its course schedule for the 2010 fall term. <br><br> Classes are offered in Pensacola, Graceville, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and through the Center of the America’s locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Coming to a neighborhood near you may be a 40-foot custom-built Blue Bird bus equipped with two dental operatories, a dental x-ray unit and sterilizing equipment. <br><br> Each year, the Florida Baptist Mobile Dental Unit moves across the Sunshine State, offering a lifeline to those who are financially incapable of caring for their dental needs. In the past year the big blue bus stopped in 32 Florida neighborhoods to fill cavities, clean teeth, and perform extractions for nearly 2,000 adults and children. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Within two weeks of announcing the fall launch of its first graduate program, The Baptist College in Florida reports it has received 62 inquiries into the program with 19 applications—and has already admitted 10 students to study for a 30-semester hour Master of Arts in Christian Studies degree. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Thirty-three volunteers from the Middle Florida Baptist Association participated in a mission trip July 5-9 to The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville. <BR><BR> According to Director of Missions Gene Stokes, who led and organized the team, eight of association’s churches participated, including Bethel Creek, Brewer Lake, Lee First, Madison First, Mayo, New Home, New Macedonia, and Pine Grove. The Association is comprised of 32 Southern Baptist churches throughout the Madison, Jefferson and Lafayette counties. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Will Wiggins, 13, had the opportunity to travel with his family last summer on an international mission trip with the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes to the Children’s Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Guatemala. <BR><BR> The plight of the children made a lasting impression him. So much so, he returned home determined to do more for them. He immediately set about raising money and to date he has collected more than $6,400 for the Center. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Women of Purpose Speak, a new resource for churches seeking speakers for special events, is the result of four friends’ concern for ministry in the local church. According to Julie Boyd, one of the speakers, the group’s aim is to provide an affordable alternative to big-name speakers with big price tags. Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBC)—Florida Ministers Wives will receive fresh ideas and inspiration related to their homes, families and food during the annual Florida Baptist Convention Ministers’ Wives Luncheon Nov. 9 at First Baptist Church in Brandon, host site of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DELTONA (FBC)—Jorge Amaro retired in Deltona to be near his children, to do a little woodworking and to do a lot of gardening. But God had other plans and cultivated within the retired tele­com­munications engineer a vision and fervor to plant a new church to reach the community’s Hispanic population. <br><br> Starting new churches was not new for the Puerto Rican native who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had planted several churches. But that was not his plan in retirement. Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORMOND BEACH (FBC)—Just like the tide coming onto the beach, many churches experience ebb and flow with good times and bad. That was the situation of North Peninsula Baptist Church in Ormond Beach two years ago, barely able to make financial ends meet and drawing only 20 members in worship. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TALLAHASSEE (FBW) -- With early voting in the 2010 primary election beginning this week, several pro-family organizations have released voter guides offering candidate’s views on various public policy issues. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Avery T. Willis Jr., creator of the MasterLife discipleship series and former mission board executive, died July 30, after a seven-month battle with leukemia. He was 76. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SAN FRANCISCO (BP)—A federal judge Wednesday handed down a landmark decision that could impact religious freedom and lead to the reversal of traditional marriage laws in every state, striking down California’s voter-approved constitutional amendment that banned “gay marriage” and ruling it violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection and due process clauses. Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)—Morris Curry Jr., a chaplain at San Quentin State Prison in California, said the prison has more in common with Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary that one would notice at first glance. <BR><BR> “God is behind those walls,” Curry said of San Quentin, which is located only 20 minutes from the seminary’s Northern California campus in Mill Valley. Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)—Jessie Reed was incarcerated in 1985, when he was 23 years old, for committing a homicide. After 24 years as an inmate, he celebrated his one-year parole anniversary in June. Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)—Gary Poe recently was named the recipient of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Charles and Hazel Corts Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award carries with it the responsibility of serving as the Faculty Grand Marshal for the coming academic year. He will carry the University’s mace in procession at all ceremonial functions, such as degree-granting ceremonies and other formal convocations. Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Christian Library International, a ministry housed in Hillcrest Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., recently passed a milestone in its ministry when it sent its 300,000th book to a prison inmate. The 14-year-old organization has provided Christian books to more than 1,000 prisons and detention centers, according to the Biblical Recorder, the news journal of North Carolina Baptists. Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)— Learn how to involve women in what God is doing and get ideas on next year’s mission materials at the 2010 Equipping for Missions and Ministries Regional Training. Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT MYERS (FBC)-Mark Gonzalez, founder and current pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Fort Myers, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker at the South Florida Sunday School Convention Aug. 14 at Crossroads Baptist Church in Ft. Myers. Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—On the last day of school at Medulla Elementary in Lakeland, the school’s principal, along with several students and teachers, presented a check in the amount of $13,000 to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes for their humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TITUSVILLE (FBW)—In thirty years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Titusville, Ray Johnson has baptized the children and grandchildren of some he baptized in 1980, ministering to extended families he now considers his own family. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Avery T. Willis Jr., creator of the MasterLife discipleship series and former mission board executive, died Friday morning, July 30, after a seven-month battle with leukemia. He was 76. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)--With nearly 77 percent of the state of Florida unaware of their need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Florida Baptists look to the month of September as a time of awareness, reflection and prayer for the great opportunities God has presented them in the Sunshine State. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—International Mission Board trustees moved toward the future while honoring the past during their July 20-21 meeting in Richmond, Va. Trustees voted unanimously to recommend modifying the IMB’s primary ministry assignment to reach people groups globally, including North America, and formally recognized Jerry Rankin for 40 years of service. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MARIETTA, GA. (BP)—In a video and letter, the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention calls on church leaders and their congregations to take their missions engagement to a whole new level. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—From Nevada to New York and many states in between, 75 Southern Baptist bivocational pastors attended the inaugural luncheon of the newly named Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network during the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Orlando. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Southern Baptist evangelism professor Roy Fish and legendary revivalist Mordecai Ham were inducted into the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists’ Hall of Faith June 12 during the organization’s annual meeting in Orlando. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) – The Florida Baptist Convention has released a new, four-minute video highlighting hunger ministries of Florida Baptists as many churches prepare to receive a special offering July 11. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH) – The Florida Baptist Children's Homes is launching its annual Mission Backpack campaign to collect backpacks for disadvantaged and orphaned children in Florida, Haiti, and other locations in the developing world. The campaign is a partnership between the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, Orphan Outreach, and Moody Radio stations. The Mission Backpack drive in Florida will take place from July 5-31.<br><br>In addition to backpacks, the Children's Homes will also collect hygiene kits to go into the backpacks. The backpacks also will be packed with a new Bible from Lone Sheep ministries and a toy bear provided by Family Christian Stores. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—LifeWay Christian Resources set forth a theme of hope in its annual report to the Southern Baptist Convention as president and CEO Thom Rainer highlighted the “Transformational Church” initiative and “Courageous,” the upcoming movie project with Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. Rainer said both emphases demonstrate great hope for the church and for families. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—GuideStone Financial Resources remains strong, despite a turbulent period in world financial markets, GuideStone president O.S. Hawkins told messengers meeting June 16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Members of the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America celebrated their gifts of nearly $109,000 for Haiti relief during the group’s June 14-17 meeting in Orlando. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Immigration is “an important issue that has reached a critical phase,” Richard Land told members of the National Hispanic Fellowship of Southern Baptist Churches June 13. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Racial reconciliation is his agenda, James Dixon, incoming president of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention, said at the group’s gathering June 14 in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Filipino Southern Baptists are better equipped to reach North America for Christ than any other ethnic group immigrating to the U.S., Jason Kim told the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Mission leaders from across the nation were challenged to live “Unhindered” during the first two sessions of the 2010 National WMU Missions Celebration and 122nd annual meeting of Woman’s Missionary Union June 13-14 in Orlando. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Mary Lou Serratt of Amarillo, Texas, received the Dellanna West O’Brien Award and Joy Cranford of Fort Mill, S.C., received the Martha Myers GA Alumna of Distinction Award June 14 during the annual meeting of the Woman’s Missionary Union in Orlando. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Adam and Laurie Wyatt and their daughter Abby attended their first Pastors’ Conference and Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando. <br><br> Because of the preschool childcare offered by the SBC, Adam did not have to come to the convention alone. Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The work of the six seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention is showcased with each spring’s commencement. Reports from the seminaries’ services follow. Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The .xxx Internet domain for pornography is a major step closer to becoming a reality after an authoritative body announced June 25 its approval of the proposal. Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Two-star U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, the Army’s chief of chaplains, had a surprise for the 200 people who attended the annual Southern Baptist Convention chaplain’s luncheon June 14 in Orlando. <br><br> Carver, who has reached the heights of military achievement, played the piano and sang. Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. <br><br> The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, <br><br> When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Mother’s Day and Father’s Day might spark thoughts of the traditional family, but President Obama has commemorated both holidays this year by applauding homosexual parenting—a first for a president. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using the online form on our "Contact Us" page. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with a mailing address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—With The Baptist College of Florida fall 2010 semester quickly approaching, a new voice can be heard coming from the 24/7 WFBU-LP Radio Studio located on the Graceville campus. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Dear Florida Baptists, <br><br> The statistic is shocking: Every 3.5 seconds someone in the world dies from hunger. <br><br> By the time you read this letter, more than a dozen persons will have starved to death, unable to secure life’s most basic need. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—President Thomas A. Kinchen announced The Baptist College of Florida’s Bill Davis will become the new chair of the BCF music and worship division. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Bobbye Rankin offered the Pastors’ Wives Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Conference the same source of help she’s shared for the past 17 years to encourage missionaries on international fields: strength from the Word of God. Quoting from memory the entire 84th Psalm, Rankin affirmed the writer’s desire to dwell in God’s presence. From Exodus 15 she applied the benefits of that relationship as demonstrated in the lives of the Israelites whether in a time of celebration or despair. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—An overflow crowd of more than 1,850 women focused on ways to mentor ministry marriages at the Ministers’ Wives Conference June 15 in Orlando. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Dorothy Kelley Patterson was honored with the 2010 Willie Turner Dawson Award during the Ministers’ Wives Conference June 15 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- The Florida Baptist Convention has released a 90-second "worship video" calling on Christians to pray for their nation, government leaders and each other during this weekend's Independence Day holiday celebrations. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Messengers adopted a resolution calling for reaffirmation of the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus and endorsed other resolutions addressing the implications of the Good News at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 15-16 in Orlando, Fla. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Messengers offered 30 motions June 15 during the opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., including at least six related to the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)—Ungodly views of human life as well as dangerous social experiments are threatening America’s future and clouding the legacy of the Gospel handed down from giants of the faith, Richard Land told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 15 in Orlando, Fla. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention were reminded of the importance of theological education through reports from the convention’s six seminaries during the June 15-16 sessions in Orlando. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Two Floridians were appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt to serve on the SBC’s Committee on Committees which assembled in Orlando just prior to the June 15-16 annual meeting. Hunt also appointed Floridians to the tellers and credentials committees, while others were nominated by the SBC Committee on Nominations, chaired by Willie Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, to serve on various SBC entities’ governing boards. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—On most days, Pine Street in central Orlando is a busy city thoroughfare, but June 12 half a city block was closed to traffic in order to accommodate Downtown Orlando Baptist Church’s Crossover block party. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-A Committee on Nominations composed of 29 pastors, 18 laypersons, and one associational director of missions has been appointed by the officers of the Florida Baptist State Convention. John Bozard, a member of First Baptist Church, Orlando, was named to chair the 49-member committee; and Greg Kell, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Inverness, will serve as vice-chairman. The officers are in the process of selecting a representative for the Ridge Association The committee is made up of one member from each of the 49 associations in the state, plus three officers of the state convention who serve as ex officio members. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville is currently registering students for the fall 2010 semester. The complete class schedule can be accessed online at www.baptistcollege.edu. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville’s newest Internet presence has just hit a major milestone. <br><br> BCF’s page on Facebook, the world’s most popular social network site and the second most visited website on the Internet (only behind Google), has just passed the mark of 1,000 fans. Launched April 5 for the purpose of increased visibility and connecting with people, the page was able to accumulate 1,000 “fans” in less than two months. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BCF)—In addition to the important deliberations and decisions voted on at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando June 15-16, 2010, The Baptist College of Florida was able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones from their spot in the convention exhibit hall. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started seven new churches in May, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- With an active hurricane season predicted for this summer, Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief is prepared to respond. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Under the banner of “Greater Things,” speakers during the June 14 afternoon and evening sessions of the 2010 Pastors’ Conference—held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando—focused on the Great Commission and the launch of a national campaign to help pastors adopt children. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Across the vast expanse of the Orange County Convention Center hall in Orlando, Fla., people rose to their feet June 15 in a show of commitment to getting the Gospel to the 6,426 people groups around the globe still unreached with the Gospel. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—The North American Mission Board put real faces on its work—showing three poignant videos featuring brand-new Christians and then bringing those individuals on stage to a series of standing ovations—during its annual report to the Southern Baptist Convention June 16 in Orlando, Fla. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—A proposal to create a broad category of “Great Commission” missions giving among Southern Baptists has the potential to result in less money for North American missions, the interim president of the North American Mission Board told a group of associational church leaders June 13. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-The latest movie in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series will release in December, and Baptist Press and other Christian media were given the opportunity to debut the trailer June 17. Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The removal of Christian influences in America’s public schools has transformed the character and decreased the quality of public education in the United States over the past 60 years, according to Christian leaders who want to make a difference. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The lights dim, the music swells, and the doors burst open as The Well begins another unconventional worship service to reach the college students and young adults of Tallahassee. Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE (FBC)-While other relief agencies scrambled to establish a network to provide help after the Jan. 12 earthquake, Florida Baptists with their 15-year partnership and experience after other disasters in Haiti, easily ushered immediate food, medical clinics, and supplies to the devastated nation. Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 On social networking sites and on nationwide TV, viewers may see videos inviting them to participate in an initiative called the “I Am Not Ashamed Project.“ <br><br> In a commercial promoting the project, Florida Baptists might recognize Randall James, quoting his favorite Bible verse in a close-up. James, an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Orlando, said he was chosen to participate in the project by “divine providence.” Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The All Pro Dad website (www.ALLPRODAD.com) delivers what it guarantees in its logo, “advice, events, family.” A source of information on everything from how to find NFL events and spokesmen, to how to organize groups and obtain downloadable resources (like family contracts, games and quizzes), it includes “Billboards” with topics related to parenting, marriage and children. Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT ST. LUCIE (FBW)—When 270 teenagers competed in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. June 2-4, most were prepared to spell words like “triskaidekaphobia*”or “cacoethes.**” Aldrin D’Silva of Port St. Lucie hoped he would be given comparable words that only he would be able to spell. Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RIDGECREST, N.C. (LCR)—Jamahl Glaze knows a good opportunity when he sees it. <br><br> He’s attended LifeWay’s men’s conference for four out of five years with his church, Consolidated Baptist in Lexington, Ky. He makes the annual trip because he sees the time as “an investment.” Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)–With the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando only days away, Florida Baptist Witness is planning major coverage of this important event.<br><br>A special edition of the Witness will be distributed at the SBC. For those not attending the SBC, the special edition content will be available online, both as separately posted articles and through our new service, Witness Extra - an enhanced PDF version of our print edition. To view Witness Extra with the iPhone and the iPad, download free apps from iTunes (search: "goFBW" on the iPhone and "Florida Baptist Witness" on the iPad). Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GULF COAST of Louisiana (BP)—The Louisiana Baptist Convention will begin dispatching disaster relief chaplains to the oil-beleaguered Gulf Coast areas of the state beginning June 7. Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Florida Baptists will go to the greens for the green when the annual Florida Baptist Open Golf Tournament raises funds for the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry. Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please e-mail materials at least three weeks before the date of the event to cnichols@goFBW.com. Information may also be mailed to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207; faxed to 904-346-0696; or submitted via the Web site: www.goFBW.com. Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)-While the deadly Haiti earthquake has dominated the news since Jan. 12-and rightfully so-another Haitian disaster is brewing in the United States and Canada. Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 As the sun goes down and shadows stretch deeply in the empty fields around the El Shaddai Children Home, the sound of children’s voices singing worship songs permeates the night. Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)-Delivering the devotional to trustees of the North American Mission Board at their May 19 meeting in Kansas City, Mo., Great Commission Resurgence Task Force (GCRTF) chairman Ronnie Floyd said he's "never had a greater passion than I do today to see that North America and the world have a Gospel witness for Jesus Christ." Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Nashville, Tenn. (LCR)-Two-thirds of American "Millennials"-those born between 1980 and 1991—call themselves Christian, but far fewer pray or read the Bible daily, attend weekly worship services, or hold to historical positions on the Bible and its teachings. <br><br> These are the findings from a wide-ranging August 2009 LifeWay Research study of 1,200 Millennials in the United States. The study forms the basis for the upcoming book The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation by Thom Rainer and his son, Jess Rainer. Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)-When asked what’s important in life, most American "Millennials"-those born between 1980 and 1991-say family comes first, ahead of friends, education, careers and even religion. Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The Florida Baptist Convention has joined the Facebook and Twitter phenomenon. Florida Baptists who subscribe to either of these social networking mediums are being asked to become a fan of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Facebook page and become a tweet follower at Twitter.com/floridabaptists. Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started ten new churches in April, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Thousands of Venezuelan civilians are training at military bases to “defend” the country against enemies President Hugo Chavez says are threatening the country. <br><br> The volunteers, clad in olive-green fatigues, learn to crawl under barbed wire, fire assault rifles and stalk enemies in combat, the Associated Press reported. Critics say the “Bolivarian Militia” is aimed at maintaining control of the country, not protecting it from external dangers. Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Indonesia’s controversial 45-year-old law banning religious blasphemy is constitutional, the country’s Constitutional Court ruled April 19. In an 8-to-1 decision, the court said the blasphemy law did not contradict the country’s 1945 constitution or Indonesia’s national ideology of “Pancasila,” which asserts freedom of religion under an umbrella that includes belief in only one God and just, civilized, democratic society. Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Three Christians in Bangladesh were beaten and taken captive April 16 by members of an armed Buddhist rebel group that was trying to force the trio to return to Buddhism. Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A new survey of 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa has found that the vast majority of people are deeply committed to Christianity or Islam but also continue to practice elements of their traditional religions, Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life announced April 15. Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Americans described themselves as more pro-life than pro-choice on abortion for the second straight year, according to a new Gallup Poll. Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Keith Strasburger skillfully conveyed Jesus’ story of the prodigal son to the small group gathered around him. His style was easygoing and relational, yet he told the story with amazing detail and accuracy.<br><br> Strasburger and Dan Cullum led one of eight small groups during the launch of a discipleship thrust called “DNA 21” at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. More than 100 participants gathered in New Orleans and via the Internet in Atlanta, Orlando, Fla., to learn about Bible storying and relational small groups as a discipleship method. The small groups played a key role in modeling the concept during the three-day DNA21 conference. Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LONDON (BP)—A shocking video has emerged showing a Baptist street preacher in the United Kingdom being arrested for calling homosexuality a sin. <br><br> Newspaper stories about 42-year-old Dale Mcalpine have received attention in the United Kingdom and the United States, but the video—which Mcalpine recorded with a hidden camera—did not surface publicly until May 14. It lasts just under two minutes and makes it clear that he was arrested for expressing a biblical view of homosexuality. Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—It is often said that the older you get, the faster time moves, and for 58 graduates at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville, the past few years have passed quickly with studying, hard work, determination, and prayer. <BR><BR> Spring commencement May 14 in BCF’s Assembly Center began with the traditional graduate processional “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by BCF piano professor Angela Glover. New English professor Geoffrey Reiter led the invocation followed by music and worship division chair Don Odom leading the congregation in “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 As the semester draws to an end at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville, many students were busy writing papers, applying for internships, and planning summer mission trips. On April 28, however, the U.S. Government and Politics class took time to host a voter registration drive on campus. Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 While most students headed home or to the beach for Spring Break, the Writing Center Director for The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville, Deanie DeFelix, traveled to England to present a paper at the Oxford Round Table Symposium. Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—A dream that started nearly ten years ago by a group of parents of developmentally delayed adults at First Baptist Church in Naples was finally realized May 16 when Protected Harbor, a new home for developmentally delayed ladies, was dedicated in Fort Myers. Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The Tampa Bay Baptist Association is partnering with Construction for World Evangelism and the Baptist Convention of Honduras in two mission projects this summer, according to Othoniel Valdez, church planting director of the Tampa Bay Association. Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Tommy Reed* was soaked to the bone. The 27-year-old missionary was caught in a torrential downpour as he rode his motorcycle to a Bible study in a remote Philippine village. <br><br> He found shelter under a thatched-roof shed and stumbled upon the woman who would one day become his church-planting partner—and his bride. Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 EDITOR’S NOTE: Southern Baptist military chaplains are called upon by soldiers and their families to bring encouragement, hope and comfort during some of life’s most challenging difficulties. This article chronicles the experience of SBC Chaplain (Commander) Manuel A. Biadog Jr. of the U.S. Navy, who accompanied the body of a fallen Marine as he returned home from battle in Afghanistan. NEWPORT, R.I. (BP)—After the long journey from Afghanistan via Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, U.S. Marine Corps Private First Class (PFC) Kyle Coutu is finally back at home in Rhode Island with his grieving family. It was my job as a Navy chaplain to make this final trip with him. Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)—About 5:15 a.m., the cell phone alarms chime, chirp and ding as dawn breaks in the Haitian sky. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief “yellow shirts” are donned as the day begins for the volunteer demolition team. Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Southern Baptists reported a 2.2 percent increase in baptisms in 2009, stemming a four-year decline, but membership in the denomination fell and the sagging economy led to a drop in missions giving, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in conjunction with Baptist state conventions. Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MILWAUKEE (BP)—Leo Endel, executive director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention, will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 15-16 annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE (FBC)—Florida Baptist Convention disaster relief workers continue to work “diligently” with Haitian government officials to release shipping containers carrying Buckets of Hope from shipping ports in Port-au-Prince and Saint Marc. Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—“Unhindered!” will be the theme of the June 13-14 WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting in Orlando. Cindy Goodwin, women’s missions and ministries director, Florida Baptist Convention, and Carol Vandeventer, president, Florida WMU, will welcome participants June 13. Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Registration is now open for families to enroll their children in preschool childcare and the children’s conference—as well as Fuge camp for grades 6 through 12—in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Orlando. For all information regarding registration, visit www.sbcannualmeeting.net and click on “Children & Students.” All children’s programs will be held in the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions will convene for their 50th meeting June 12-14 in Orlando. Speakers will include Frank Page, Ed Stetzer, O.S. Hawkins and Jerry Rankin. Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC) - This summer 180 Florida Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) students will serve across the globe as your missionaries, a process that promises to change their lives and the lives of others on the mission field. Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, now recognized as an official ethnic and language ministry of the North American Mission Board, will gather in Orlando, Fla., to discuss plans for church planting among Jewish populations in the United States. The fellowship’s annual meeting will begin with a Shabbat service on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m. in Salon 1 and 2 on the second floor of the Rosen Centre Hotel. The group also will have a booth in the exhibit hall during the June 15-16 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—This year’s worship service sponsored by the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists will be on Wednesday afternoon during the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Orlando. Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Richard Land is scheduled to address the topic of immigration during the National Hispanic Fellowship of Southern Baptist Churches meeting on Sunday afternoon, June 13, in Orlando. Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—The church where the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention held its first official gathering in 1994 will be the site of the Sunday evening worship service that begins NAAF’s 2010 annual meeting. <br><br> NAAF’s annual worship will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 13, at Tangelo Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., where Andrew Pollard is pastor. “LoveLoud through the Great Commission,” the theme of the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 15-16 annual meeting in Orlando, also will be the theme for NAAF’s annual meeting. Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver, U.S. Army chief of chaplains, will address the annual Southern Baptist Convention Chaplains’ Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 14. Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Alumni and friends of the Southern Baptist Convention’s six seminaries will receive updates about the schools and renew acquaintances with faculty members and classmates during luncheons on Wednesday, June 16, in conjunction with the SBC’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Under the banner of “Greater Things,” the 2010 SBC Pastors’ Conference will explore the prospect of a bright future for Southern Baptist pastors, their churches and the denomination, conference president Kevin Ezell says. The program also will feature the launch of a national campaign to help pastors adopt children. <BR><BR> “This is a critical time in the life of our convention,” said Ezell, president of the Pastors’ Conference and senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. “We’re thankful for the past, but we really do believe the best is yet to come and God has greater things for us as a convention and, hopefully, for ministers—in their personal lives, in their ministries, and in our mission as a whole. That’s what each of the sessions will be about.” Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 June 13-14, 2010; Orange County Convention Center Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—”“Greater Things” will be the theme of the annual Pastors’ Wives Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Conference, with keynote speaker Bobbye Rankin. Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The SBC Women’s EXPO is expanded to to two days this year. Women are invited to come and be inspired by tools and resources that teach the Christian world-view and Biblical Womanhood; to explore unique, effective ways to impact the culture through communicating the Gospel and how to train and recruit leadership; and to discover fresh thoughts on women’s ministry. Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—The 2010 SBC Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon will begin at noon Tuesday, June 15, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The program will focus on the theme “Mentoring Ministry Marriages.” Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—The final report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force will highlight the Southern Baptist Convention’s 153rd annual meeting when the two-day event convenes June 15 in Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. <br><br> The report, released May 3 at www.pray4gcr. com, has been the centerpiece of discussion in Southern Baptist circles since messengers at the 2009 meeting in Louisville, Ky., authorized the SBC president to appoint a task force. The public conversation intensified when the GCRTF released a preliminary version of its report Feb. 22, with some hailing it as innovative and others expressing concerns that it would negatively impact cooperation with state conventions and hurt giving through the SBC’s Cooperative Program. Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth. I John 3:18 (HCSB) Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Two Floridians have been appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt to serve on the SBC’s Committee on Committees which will assemble in Orlando just prior to the June 15-16 annual meeting. Hunt also appointed Floridians to the tellers and credentials committees, while others have been nominated by the SBC Committee on Nominations, chaired by Willie Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, to serve on various SBC entities’ governing boards. Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Two major Hispanic evangelism initiatives will be part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting and Crossover Orlando in June. <BR><BR> The 2010 National Hispanic Celebration is expected to draw several hundred Hispanic Baptist pastors and leaders to First Baptist Church in Kissimmee, 1700 N. John Young Pkwy., on Sunday evening, June 13. Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (BP)—Evangelist Bailey Smith, a former Southern Baptist Convention president and former pastor, will nominate evangelist Ron Herrod for first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 15-16 annual meeting in Orlando. Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The flood relief work of one Southern Baptist church in Nashville was featured May 6 by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who applauded the state’s response and said he’s “never seen” such an outpouring of volunteers following a natural disaster. <br><br> Cooper broadcast live Thursday night from the Nashville community of Bellevue, which was hit hard by the May 1-2 disaster that dropped more than 13 inches of rain over 48 hours, nearly doubling the two-day record and flooding creeks and rivers. Davidson County, where Nashville resides, and 26 other counties in West and Middle Tennessee have been declared major disaster areas by the federal government. Thousands of homes were flooded and sustained major damage. Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GAFFNEY, SC (FBC)—Richard Martin Barber, 83, died May 1 in Gaffney, S.C. He was a Florida Baptist Convention employee from 1971 until his retirement in 1991, serving as director of the Church Annuity Promotion beginning in 1976. Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MACON, Ga. (BP)—Nearly 500 high school, college and seminary students from 15 states converged at “KALEO: Georgia ‘10” as part of their quest to find God’s will for their lives. <br><br> The gathering was the 11th KALEO weekend since 2006 sponsored by the North American Mission Board’s KALEO Network. (KALEO is a Greek word meaning “to call” or “to call out.”) Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—After growing up in a Christian home and spending most Sundays in the safe confines of a church pew, Jeremy Howard felt prepared to defend his faith when he went off to college. Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE (FBC)—As the sun goes down and shadows stretch deeply in the empty fields around the El Shaddai Children Home, the sound of children’s voices singing worship songs permeates the night. <BR><BR> As if on cue, like they have been just waiting for the singing to start, people living near the large house with the blue metal roof begin to wander over. <BR><BR> It has been this way since the earthquake, according to Marie Prinvil, director of El Shaddai, flashing a brilliant smile as if it was her plan all along. Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Brazilian Baptist pastor Silair Almeida speaks with the confidence that comes from nearly 20 years of ministry among some 300,000 Brazilians who now call South Florida home. <br><br> Almeida was one of 14 Brazilian pastors and church leaders who met for two days at the North American Mission Board to establish a Brazilian Mission Network that aims to exponentially expand the spread of the Gospel among an estimated 1.3 million Brazilians living throughout the United States. Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP)—Living Hope pastor Jason Pettus points to results, especially when it comes to missions. <br><br> “We don’t talk much about the Cooperative Program as a program,” Pettus said. “We talk about the results of it. We talk about the half-dozen students we send to seminary every year. We talk about what we are able to do in our city and around the world through the SBC. We don’t talk about the Cooperative Program; we show what it accomplishes.” Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Lorne James transitioned from living with 80 villagers in the Peruvian Amazon to living with thousands of campers at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters Camp in Andrews, N.C. <br><br> James went overseas as a recent college graduate to participate in the International Mission Board’s two-year journeyman missions experience, then opted to spend a year after that in the States encouraging students to be involved in missions. Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MONTCOAL, W.Va. (BP)—The West Virginia coal mine tragedy was an opportunity for Southern Baptists to show compassion to individuals who may not have had much experience with church, a North American Mission Board worker said. Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Kazakhstan’s high court has refused to hear the case of a Baptist who can neither work nor leave the country because authorities confiscated his passport. Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A dissident Chinese lawyer missing for more than a year is alive and living in northern China, a human rights organization said March 29. Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Pressure against opponents of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez intensified in March as the country’s National Assembly voted to remove the parliamentary immunity of an opposition lawmaker and the president of an opposition-aligned TV network was briefly arrested. Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 HOSCHTON, Ga. (BP)—Ray Newman, ethics and religious affairs specialist for the Georgia Baptist Convention, will be nominated as second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Georgia evangelist announced April 16. <br><br> Tommy Fountain, who also is director of missions for Mulberry Baptist Association in Hoschton, Ga., said he will nominate Newman for the post during the SBC’s June 15-16 meeting in Orlando. Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Richard Martin Barber, 83, died May 1 in Gaffney, S.C. Barber, the former director of the Church Annuity Promotion Department for the Florida Baptist Convention retired in 1991 after serving the Convention for 20 years. Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A Christian in Pakistan’s southern Punjab Province was murdered March 9 for refusing to convert to Islam. Rasheed Masih, 36, allegedly was killed with an ax by six Muslim neighbors who reportedly were business rivals. Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—An Iranian pastor is being tortured in prison and threatened with execution for “converting Muslims.” Wilson Issavi, 65, was arrested Feb. 2 shortly after a house church meeting in Isfahan, the Compass Direct news service reported. When his wife, Medline Nazanin, was allowed to visit Issavi in prison, she saw signs of torture and was told by officials he might be executed for his alleged activities. Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—An advocate for scouting for the past 50 years since he was a youth in West Virginia, John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, received the Silver Good Shepherd Cross and Staff award from the Association of Baptists for Scouting. Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Backlash over evangelist Franklin Graham speaking at the Pentagon as part of the National Day of Prayer observance prompted the U.S. Army to rescind an invitation it had extended to the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started thirteen new churches in March, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Introducing Gary Crawford, pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville, as “a man I’ll drive 200 miles to have a cup of coffee and pray with,” the president of The Baptist College of Florida launched the 2010 Mission Conference at the school by telling students in chapel that Westside Baptist epitomizes global missions involvement. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP)—Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director David Tolliver will attempt to make a motion at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June asking messengers to receive the report by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force (GCRTF) and delay any action for one year until all entities involved can do a spiritual/ financial impact study. Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FOND PARISIEN, Haiti (BP)—Heath Stone knew God wanted him in Haiti. Problem was, nobody would help him go.<BR><BR> The 19-year-old pre-med student at the University of Tennessee called just about every relief organization he could think of, to no avail. There simply wasn’t any opportunity available in Haiti that coincided with his spring break. Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Wondering what to do with your summer? The International Mission Board needs students willing to spend two weeks serving in Haiti.<BR><BR> IMB is sounding an urgent call for 275 Christian students to work with children displaced by the earthquake that struck the island nation Jan. 12. Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Kobe Ellis leaps high in the air and holding his legs and arms tight, completes a perfect cannonball in his family’s swimming pool. The large splash is followed by screams of delight by his three younger brothers. Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—More than a hundred children in the care of Florida Baptist Children’s Homes made a decision for Christ this past year, according to FBCH president Jerry Haag. Of all that Florida Baptists do to care for hurting children, this is, by far, the greatest contribution they make, Haag said, in announcing the goal for this year’s Mother’s Day offering. Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Kenneth E. Dyal Sr., pastor of The Church at Argyle in Jacksonville, died April 20 following complications from heart surgery. He was 57. Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)—Before 3,000 people at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga.—one of the largest crowds to ever witness a North American Mission Board missionary commissioning service—NAMB introduced 79 new missionaries and 16 new chaplains on Sunday, March 28. <br><br> The new missionaries and chaplains represented 24 states, two Canadian provinces and 23 state Baptist conventions. South Carolina alone accounted for 11 missionaries commissioned during the two-hour service. Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (BP)—A Southern Baptist congregation’s emphasis on health and fitness has sparked a primetime series devoted to reversing a trend in a city regarded as one of the nation’s most obese. <br><br> Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution” is set for a two-hour premier March 26 at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC, and First Baptist Church in Kenova, W.Va., in the Huntington area is featured throughout the six-week series. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - Kenneth E. Dyal Sr., pastor of The Church at Argyle in Jacksonville, died April 20 following complications from heart surgery. He was 57. A native of Fort Myers, Dyal was a doctoral graduate of Luther Rice Seminary. He served as associate pastor of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Jacksonville before accepting the pastorate of The Church at Argyle, where he served 25 years. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (BP)--Jimmy Jackson, president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention at June's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GLEN ST. MARY (FBW)—A six-member mission team from First Baptist Church in Glen St. Mary recently experienced the spread of the Gospel similar to that of the First Century church when they were part of leading 860 people to the Lord and planting several new churches in villages surrounding in a south Asian country. <br><br> “It was like what you read about in the Bible,” *a member of the team told Florida Baptist Witness. “When we would get to town, people came out of their houses asking who we were and what we were doing. We would tell them about Jesus, and they would take us to their neighbors and say, ‘Tell them what you told me.’” Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Talking about sexual exploitation is an uncomfortable subject for most parents and caregivers. The 20-page illustrated Think First & Stay Safe™ Parent Guide is designed with this in mind. The Parent Guide gives parents and guardians current, relevant personal safety information—including proven prevention strategies—to sit down and share with youngsters. The Parent Guide provides the words and illustrations to ease personal safety discussions. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—In a stirring sermon to students March 2 at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention challenged them to go out of their way in “Being Uncommon for Christ.” <BR><BR> Basing his sermon on Acts 4:31-33, Sullivan said there are three things that make believers uncommon: their prayer life, their fellowship, and their relationship with the Holy Spirit. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville has announced the classes that to be offered during the summer and fall sessions. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Individuals interested in pursuing an advanced understanding of American cults and sectarian groups will have the opportunity to learn from an expert on the subject, James K. Walker, during the first summer term at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 “Love Means Sharing Christ” is the theme of the Emerald Coast Sunday School and Small Groups Convention set for April 24 at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Frequent laughter and a few tears punctuated a day ending with hugs and a strong commitment from more than 70 women from across the state who pledged March 5 to reach out and help more hurting children in Florida and throughout the developing world in the name of Jesus. <br><br> Women of Compassion, a group comprised of women that have contributed $1,000 or more to the Women of Compassion Giving Society of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, met to talk about how they will continue to work to unite women around key goals and objectives. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBW)—Four years ago Pam Mutz was concerned by what she termed as a cavalier attitudes towards sex and an overall lack of purity that many young people were exhibiting. She felt a burden for young people who often experienced horrible consequences that came about because they did not understand God’s plan for sexuality and the importance of sexual purity before marriage. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PLANT CITY (FBC)—Long-time Florida pastor and director of missions, Tom E. Capell, died March 27 in Plant City. He was 92 and resided in Lakeland at the time of his death. Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—“I need another bag of rice.” “Where’s the peanut butter?” These were the sounds as more than 25 kids from the Lakeland campus of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes worked to pack more than 30 buckets for the Buckets of Hope project. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 An interfaith evangelism conference for the small church is April 19-22 at First Baptist Church in Paisley. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 EDITOR’S NOTE: April 11 is Cooperative Program Sunday in the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. This article is adapted in large part from the video, “Cooperative Program: A Sacred Effort.” <BR><BR> NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—From the founding of the convention in 1845, Southern Baptists have united around a mission of “eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort, for the propagation of the Gospel.” NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—From the founding of the convention in 1845, Southern Baptists have united around a mission of “eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort, for the propagation of the Gospel.” Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Following the Great Commission Mandate, the Florida Baptist Convention has set as its priorities to reach people for Jesus Christ, start new churches and strengthen existing churches. The summary of the following diverse and multi-faced ministries represent a year’s work of the Florida Baptist Convention and its staff. The list is not exhaustive, but representative. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)—On April 5, Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, and six members of the task force initiated a meeting with eight state executive directors. <br><br> John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, was one of the leaders at the meeting along with GCRTF members Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, and Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola. Through his spokesman Don Hepburn, Sullivan declined to comment on the meeting. Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--An independent Baptist church famous for its hate-filled protests is back in the news, and one Southern Baptist leader wants to make clear to the public that the church has no affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. <br><br> Westboro Baptist Church, a Topeka, Kan.-based independent church comprised largely of the family members of pastor Fred Phelps, won a court victory late last month when a federal appeals panel ordered the father of a dead Marine to pay the church more than $16,000 in court costs from a civil suit he filed. The father had sued the church after it protested his son's military funeral, with church members carrying signs reading, "You're going to hell," "God hates you" and "Thank God for dead soldiers," CNN reported. His son was killed in Iraq in 2006. Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)--International religious freedom advocates inside and outside Congress have urged President Obama to fill an ambassador's post that has been vacant since he took office. Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)--President Obama recalled the resurrection of Christ at a Tuesday Easter prayer breakfast for Christian leaders that included pastors from a wide range of denominations, including the Southern Baptist Convention. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CORAL SPRINGS (FBW) -- A clinic to prepare workers for Vacation Bible School in South Florida will be held April 17 at Parkridge Baptist Church in Coral Springs. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBW) -- The Florida Baptist Convention’s Student Ministries Department is hosting a workshop for those working in student ministries on April 20 in Brandon. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—Christian girls are wonderful, gifted, complicated and, at times, aggravating. They are also ready to step out and turn their world upside down for Christ. Their leaders need to get ready and hang on for the ride. <br><br> The first Girls’ Ministry Forum, hosted by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention Feb. 26-27 at LifeWay’s home office in Nashville, Tenn., attracted about 200 from 16 states. Large group sessions offered leaders and girls time to sit together and hear speakers and panels, while breakout sessions were specific to each age group. Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSON, Tenn. (FBW)-Several members of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force met with selected state convention leaders April 5 for six hours of "honest and substantial conversation," according to GCRTF chairman Ronnie Floyd. Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VIENNA, Va. (LCR)—Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer stands at the podium and scans the 2,400-strong audience. She sees moms, grandmothers, singles, widows, believers, nonbelievers and a few sleepwalkers. <br><br> “I want to speak to the sleepwalkers,” Shirer said during a LifeWay-sponsored Going Beyond women’s conference held Feb. 26-27 at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Va. “I want to speak to everyone who’s waiting and wishing to go on to the next thing in life, all the while missing what God is doing in the right here and now.” Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DENVER (BP)--Executive directors from nine Southern Baptist state conventions in the West and Canada have told the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force that the committee's proposed restructuring of the North American Mission Board would severely curtail their ministries. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BLACKFOOT, Idaho (NAMB)—North American Mission Board missionary Jim Ballard—all 243 lbs. of him—lay sprawled in agonizing pain on a snow-covered dirt trail high in the mountains of the Salmon National Forest in eastern Idaho. <br><br> Four of his ribs and a vertebra were fractured, and his sternum was cracked. His lung punctured, Ballard was spitting up pink, foamy blood, which dotted his full salt-and-pepper beard. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GLEN ALLEN, Va. (BP)--State Baptist conventions will be expected to handle more responsibilities with fewer resources if the Feb. 22 "progress report" is implemented -- and some believe it will cause some state conventions to retain higher percentages of Cooperative Program missions money, leaders of one state convention has said in an open letter to the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WENTZVILLE, Mo. (NAMB)—North American Mission Board missionary Vivian McCaughan enters Hidden Valley Estates in Wentzville, Mo., and thanks God for the changes she sees. <br><br> McCaughan, who serves as the North American Mission Board’s multihousing/church planting missionary to Missouri and as the Missouri Baptist Convention’s missions/evangelism team leader, points out the new community center, the tidy landscaping and the covered pavilion built on the dusty spot where outdoor baptisms once took place in a rented cattle tank. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- The Florida Baptist Convention has announced it has produced three videos for ideal for churches wishing to observe Cooperative Program Sunday on April 11. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 COAMO, Puerto Rico (NAMB)—At the onset of his missionary career, pastor Luis Rodríguez and his wife, Lourdes Santiago, were dismayed at the lack of commitment from church members at the church they’d planted in Coamo, Puerto Rico. However, this apathy did not hamper the efforts of these Southern Baptists. Besides, from God’s divine perspective, this was only the beginning. <br><br> Luis remembers the challenges faced during those uncertain days after being sent by the Raham First Baptist Church of Santa Isabel to plant a new church in Coamo. “When we arrived at Raham-Coamo, we noticed the believers there didn’t really have a commitment to come to the services,” said Rodriguez. “When we were on our way to a prayer service, they started calling to excuse themselves from coming to the service. In that moment I turned and looked at my wife and wondered if our efforts were really worth it. We began doubting if God was really involved.” Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FRANKLIN, N.C. (NAMB)— To understand a person, walk a mile in his shoes. But if that person is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, you’ll have to walk several hundred miles. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MESA, Ariz. (NAMB)—As a Southern Baptist pastor for the last 30 years—and as a North American Mission Board missionary for the past six—Louis Spears has conducted many a funeral. But none of them prepared him for the long, lonely walk behind his wife’s casket almost two years ago. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started five new churches in February, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Each year, associational Vacation Bible School clinics provide training for about 5,000 Florida workers. Florida Baptist churches will enroll thousands of children in Vacation Bible School this summer, an opportunity that represents the most extensive outreach, evangelism and prospect-discovering event available to Florida Baptist churches. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CORDOVA, Tenn. (BP)—As “Jennifer” held the hand of a dying man in the intensive care unit of a hospital, she knew God was calling her to a career in missions. <br><br> A nurse for the past five years, Jennifer had already felt God’s call to missions. As she watched that particular encounter with eternity, she realized that people are dying every day without a relationship with Jesus Christ. She is unable to share her real name because soon she will be traveling with her family to an area resistant to the Gospel. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Penetrating the lostness of North America will require a shift in strategy—how Southern Baptist Convention missionaries and money are distributed across the continent, members of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force told associational directors of missions in a March 16 conference call. Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)—Gary E. Laird, pastor of Avalon Baptist Church in Milton, died in a motorcycle accident in Pensacola March 6. He was 52. <br><br> According to local news reports, he was thrown from his motorcycle after a car turned into his path on Nine Mile Road. Although wearing protective gear and a helmet, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (BP)—Registration for messengers and local hotels is open for the June 15-16 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. <br><br> SBC President Johnny Hunt has selected “LoveLoud through the Great Commission” (1 John 3:18) as the theme for this year’s sessions. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Joining the faculty of The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville M.F. Albin will teach three days a week in the business concentration of the Leadership and Christian Education degree Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Amazon Vision Ministries, with a long-standing relationship with Baptist College of Florida, relocated its offices in January from Gainesville to the BCF campus in Graceville. AVM is a mission sending organization that coordinates short-term volunteer mission teams from Southern Baptist churches to northern Brazil to minister in remote villages along the Amazon River. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SPRING HILL (FBW)—Northcliffe Baptist Church in Spring Hill was robbed late Feb. 21 of the day’s offerings. <br><br> According to Pastor Jerry Waugh, police said the church is only one of five churches, two schools and one homeless shelter in Hernando County to have been robbed by the same thieves. They may also have been the perpetrators of a break-in at the Northcliffe church office just one month ago. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT OGDEN (FBW) -- The days of worshiping in a triple wide and baptizing in a cattle trough are almost over for First Baptist Church in Fort Ogden, as they broke ground for a new 52,000 square foot building Feb. 7. <br><br> Nearly 700 persons attended the ground breaking which is ten-fold from when 70 members who called Pastor Wayne Earnest to the church seven years ago. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBC)- The 2005 Recipient of the Clyde Maguire Ministers' Wives Award, Cascile Middleton Knight, died Tuesday, Feb. 23 in Pensacola after an extended illness. She was 91. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NAMB)—What could be better than serving as a North American Mission Board missionary in picturesque Colorado Springs? After all, the city of 380,000 backs up to the base of snow-capped, 14,000 feet-tall Pikes Peak on the edge of the Rocky Mountains.<br><br> Money and Outside magazines have both deemed it as No. 1 on the list of the best places to live in the United States. It’s perceived as a Christian “mecca” and nicknamed “The Evangelical Vatican” because so many evangelical Christian organizations are headquartered here—Focus on the Family, The Navigators, the International Bible Society and Young Life, just to mention a few. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BP)—Against the backdrop of a land as rugged and wild as it is spiritually lost, the North American Mission Board commissioned 30 new missionaries and chaplains, many of whom will serve Alaska and its northern neighbor, Canada. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NAMB)—Mike McQuitty has almost always seen himself as a missionary. He gave his life to Christ at the age of six and in high school, realized he loved ministry work and especially missions. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CHICAGO, Ill. (NAMB)–Two blocks east of the “El” Train Red Line in Uptown Chicago, a lady named Susan limps from under a covered bus stop. <br><br> “That’s my spot. I was here. I just had to sit down.” Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—With 70 breakout sessions, more than two dozen well-known speakers, and free daycare, the 24th annual Pastors’ Conference at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville brought a variety of topics to the table early this year with its theme: “Navigating Ministry in Uncharted Waters.” Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WHISTLER, British Columbia (BP)—From yards away, Lyndon Rush’s red coat and tall frame are easy to spot among tourists, skis and snowboards. They’ve come to Whistler—an Olympic event venue near Vancouver—to ski, relax, shop and watch elite athletes like Rush, Canada’s top bobsled driver. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VANCOUVER (BP)—Making an impact at the Olympics means serving others beyond what they are expecting. <br><br> “I’m a Christian. Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do?” asked Irina State, a member of Hope Baptist Church in Las Vegas and part of Eastern European Connection, a Las Vegas church plant. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VANCOUVER (BP)—With only 30 feet to go in her 1000-meter race at the U.S. speedskating championships in December, Rebekah Bradford’s Olympic dreams seemed to tumble away when she suffered a nasty fall. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VANCOUVER (BP)—Kelly Clark wasn’t about to sit back and let her life fall to pieces. The Olympic athlete should have been excited with the direction her life was taking, but she wasn’t. So one night, she walked up to a fellow snowboarder’s hotel room and knocked on the door. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SANTIAGO, Chile (BP)—Despite logistical difficulties, Southern Baptist workers are responding to help those suffering from an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked central Chile early Feb. 27. <br><br> With highways cracked, bridges collapsed and the international airport closed, travel to and through Chile is greatly limited. But missionaries from the International Mission Board's Mapuche indigenous team, which ministers to the Mapuche people in South America, began moving out March 2 from Temuco to assess needs in the worst-hit areas. Temuco is about 130 miles south of quake-ravaged Concepción, Chile's second largest city. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz was doing some work at his Winter Haven home several weeks ago when he heard his old elementary school mentioned on the news. <BR><BR> When Medulla Elementary came up, Diaz said he listened closely to what was being said. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 The church’s response to immigration and refugees, human trafficking and sexual abuse are among the topics to be discussed at the 2010 National Ministry Conference at First Baptist Church in Leesburg March 18-20. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—The International Mission Board’s presidential search committee continues to narrow down its field of candidates to select the organization’s 11th president. The committee has requested that Southern Baptists set aside March 13 as a day of prayer and fasting to ask God to direct their path. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Regular processes of the Southern Baptist Convention will be followed if the convention’s messengers approve the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force’s recommendations, according to responses to a question during the Executive Committee’s Feb. 22-23 meeting in Nashville, Tenn. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee approved a request Feb. 23 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to include full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment at its North Georgia extension campus with its main campus FTE numbers in determining the seminary’s allocation in the Cooperative Program’s funding formula for the 2010-11 budget year. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Two disaster relief training sessions set for March in Lake City and Punta Gorda have been postponed as Florida Baptist Disaster Relief teams continue to respond to critical needs in Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (NAMB/BP)—The North American Mission Board has informed the Great Commission Task Force that data it provided last summer regarding the geographic distribution of missionaries in North America contained a significant error. The NAMB error resulted in incorrect data being published in the Feb. 22 "progress report" issued by the GCRTF. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—Despite the onset of snow and ice, almost 900 VBS leaders came to Nashville with summer on their minds.<br><br> Vacation Bible School 2010, titled "Saddle Ridge Ranch," was the focus of two VBS Preview events sponsored by the VBS area of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention Jan. 28-29 and 29-30 at LifeWay's home office in Nashville, Tenn. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn., (LCR)—It seems to be true in all churches. Big, small, city, country, contemporary or traditional—VBS directors say one of their hardest jobs is enlisting workers. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)-The annual Ministers Tax Guide for 2009 Returns has been released by GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. <br><br> The tax guide details recent changes to tax laws and their effect on ministers. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SAN FRANCISCO (BP)—The federal judge in the California Proposition 8 "gay marriage" case apparently is himself a homosexual—a fact that has been known for months by attorneys involved in the case but one that only became public when it was discussed in a San Francisco Chronicle Sunday column. <br><br> The newspaper's Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross said Judge Vaughn Walker's sexual preference was the "biggest open secret" in the landmark trial, which could result in "gay marriage" being legalized in all 50 states. Walker, 65, is not married. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBC) -- Gary E. Laird, pastor of Avalon Baptist Church in Milton since 1995, was killed when his Harley Davidson motorcycle was hit by a car Saturday morning on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. He was 52. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 INDIANAPOLIS (BP)—In what some are already calling the “Tim Tebow rule,” the NCAA Football Rules Committee is proposing that college football players be prohibited from writing anything on their eye black—the very types of messages the former Florida Gator quarterback made popular with various Bible verses. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - The Florida Baptist Convention has released a new video featuring John Sullivan updating the Convention’s relief efforts in Haiti. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—LifeWay Christian Resources will maintain its biblical fidelity, but its delivery systems are changing to keep pace with the digital church, President Thom S. Rainer told trustees at their Feb. 8-9 semiannual meeting in Nashville, Tenn. <br><br> Casting a vision for the next decade, Rainer said LifeWay will be “the ministry leader in the digital world,” such that “when people think about digital Christian resources, they will look to us. A digital strategy is critical to our future.” Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 2010 Annie Armstrong Easter Oferring Prayer Guide Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started seven new churches in January, 2010. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CAP HAITEN, Haiti (FBC)–An orphanage in Cap Haitien housing 30 children before Haiti’s earthquake now cares for 107 orphans, young victims exiled from Port-au-Prince to the northern city. <br><br> They have overwhelmed the facility and are sleeping on the floor and going without food, reported Craig Culbreth, director of Florida Baptist’s Partnership Missions Department. Few provisions had been made for the children’s long-term care or nourishment. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBW)–In an effort to provide a million tents for Haiti, the 350 churches of the Miami Baptist Association have joined with over 2,000 other evangelical churches in Miami and churches and Baptist associations from Tennessee and New York City. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)–First Baptist Church in Orlando honored U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, Feb. 14 for his role in arranging the military rescue of 17 Florida teenagers who were on a mission trip to Haiti when the nation was rocked by a 7.0 earthquake Jan. 12. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Leaders of Southern Baptists’ response to the Haiti earthquake have formulated a coordinated plan for a long-term relief effort that focuses on working through an existing network of Haitian Baptist churches. <br><br> Representatives from the North American Mission Board, Florida Baptist Convention, International Mission Board, Baptist Global Response and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Network met at NAMB offices in Alpharetta, Ga., Feb. 11-12. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada (BP)—When the 16-day Winter Olympic Games open here on Friday (Feb. 12), Southern Baptist resort missionary Derek Spain will be one of the official Vancouver Olympic Committee chaplains at the Athletes Village in Whistler, where many of the competitions will take place. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VANCOUVER (BP)—Olympic gold medalist Chad Hedrick certainly thinks he has the ability to contend for more hardware at this year’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver. <br><br> But more important than medals to Hedrick is the opportunity this year’s Olympics will give him to talk about his newfound faith in Jesus Christ, and to show the world the way in which the Lord has changed him. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0900 VANCOUVER (BP)—The message isn’t written for the worldwide audience to see, but solely as Chad Hedrick’s reminder to himself. <br><br> On the top of his skate’s blade, the U.S. speedskater has written the letters “CGIM,” which stands for “See God in me.” As he looks down at his skates when he’s competing at the Winter Olympics, Hedrick is intent on thinking about his demeanor and the way he conducts himself. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE - Southern Baptists are moving quickly to assess relief needs in the aftermath of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile at 3:34 a.m. Saturday, killing at least 82 people, collapsing buildings and setting off a tsunami. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- The Florida Baptist Convention has produced a new, 90-second video highlighting its ongoing work in Haiti in the wake of the Jan. 12 earthquake. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (FBW)-Great Commission Resurgence Task Force chairman Ronnie Floyd has released a video summary of a 32-page "Progress Report" he delivered to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee Feb. 22 in Nashville. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Military experts and social conservatives are criticizing President Obama's goal of allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military, saying the armed forces' inherently close quarters would make any change in policy similar to forcing male and female personnel to live together. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 SAN ANTONIO, Texas (BP)-Great Commission Resurgence Task Force members have wrapped up three days of deliberations in advance of making a preliminary report on their findings in February. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Conservative groups are urging the Obama administration and Democratic leaders to take a second look at abstinence education after a federally funded landmark study showed that such programs were more successful than comprehensive sex education in stopping teen sex. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, has announced plans to launch a new radio show with his son in March, saying he cannot watch the world continue a moral decline without offering guidance. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 CORAL SPRINGS (FBC)—A sign outside the worship center warns, "Due to the subject matter, church is rated PG-13." A sleek, yellow 1965 Corvette sits in the church’s entrance hall. Sledge hammers and junk cars parked on the lawn entice worshippers to "make a mess" to relieve their stress. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, KY (BP)—The 2010 SBC Pastors' Conference will focus on "Greater Things," according to Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., and president of the June 13-14 Orlando event. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)--A judge in Haiti says eight of the 10 American missions volunteers who have been detained in the country will be freed today. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW) -- A "special briefing" for pastors addressing various public policy, legal and spiritual challenges facing churches will be held March 4 in Orlando. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—The Florida Baptist Children's Homes is beginning its second full year of going to "the ends of the earth" to minister to the needs of abused, neglected, and orphaned children. Their second year of international ministry will include expansion to new ministry locations. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LEESBURG (FBC)—First Baptist Church in Leesburg is hosting a 2010 National Ministry Conference at the church March 18-20 which will offer practical workshops and leading experts to addresses, among other topics, sex-trafficking, immigration and domestic violence. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Moms, feel like you need some time with your daughters? The Mom and Me Getaway, "Love is Sweet," is schedule March 12-13 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg and March 19-20 at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center in Marianna. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (FBW)—Adalberto Fernandez, 86, former pastor of Iglesia Bautista El Buen in Miami, died Jan. 20 after a long illness. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Keynote speaker Wade Morris and the Charlie Hall Band will lead worship during the 2010 Youth Evangelism Conference, set March 26-27 at First Baptist Church in Orlando. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches.Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (FBW)–Panama City Pastor Kenric Conway, who also serves as chaplain with the U.S. Air National Guard, told Baptist College of Florida students they must be strong and courageous when they encounter battles. Speaking in chapel Jan. 25, Lt. Col. Conway used experiences in his 20-year career in the military to illustrate standing firm in the face of challenges. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (FBW)–Roger Richards, director of Student Services and General Education Division at Baptist College of Florida, told students the God they serve is greater than any obstacle they face. In the Feb. 3 chapel service on the Graceville campus, Richards said Christians, like King David who tended sheep before being anointed king, must serve faithfully and humbly in their places of service. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 HOLLYWOOD (FBW)—After spending five days in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Michael Petty, director of missions of Gulfstream Baptist Association, says with conviction, "The need is overwhelming." Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (IMB)—The Vallee de Bourdon neighborhood in Port-au-Prince was a beautiful place to live —before the 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti Jan. 12. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP)—Contrary to what some are suggesting about Focus on the Family's far-from-controversial Super Bowl ads, the organization's goal from the get-go was not to spark a media storm—and fire up its critics—but simply to draw more attention to its ministry, a spokesperson says. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Editor's note: In November the Florida Baptist State Convention approved a motion to create an Imagine If Great Commission Task Force and charged the group with studying how Florida Baptists can be more effective in fulfilling Jesus’ missionary mandate. The motion, offered by David Uth, pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, with the support of FBSC president John Cross, was approved overwhelmingly by the messengers. Before the FBSC annual meeting was over, Cross appointed 31 persons to serve on the task force. Florida Baptist Witness has compiled biographical and church information about members of the task force, which has met three times. Unless otherwise indicated, all data is from the 2009 Annual Church Profile (ACP). Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT LAUDERDALE (BP)—Corwin Anthony has spent 10 years working with the Christian ministry Athletes in Action, serving with professional athletes to nurture their faith in Jesus Christ. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (BP)—Ken Elder now has logged his fourth Super Bowl. Elder, vice president of the South Florida Super Bowl Organizing Committee for Sunday's NFL title game, previously worked on organizing committees for Super Bowls in 2001 in Tampa; 2007 in South Florida; and 2009 in Tampa. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)—A team of medical volunteers from Florida hasn't stopped working since arriving in Haiti on Feb. 3. There is just too much to do. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MIAMI (BP)—God's redemptive power in his once-troubled life was Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick's theme at the annual Super Bowl Breakfast Saturday morning. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Protestant pastors in America are working long hours, sometimes at the expense of relationships with church members, prospects, family and even the Lord, according to a LifeWay Research study released Jan. 5. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - The Florida Baptist Convention has released a new video to help churches to observe the Feb. 14 Day of Prayer for Haiti. <br><br> The Day of Prayer was declared by John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, on Feb. 2, calling on “the collected voices of Southern Baptists to pray for the hurting people of Haiti as they try to recover from one of the most devastating disasters in the Western Hemisphere.” Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—The 2010 SBC Church Compensation Survey, a joint effort of Baptist state conventions, LifeWay Christian Resources and GuideStone Financial Resources, is now online. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE (BP)--A Haitian prosecutor Thursday charged 10 members of a Baptist volunteer team with child kidnapping and criminal association for allegedly not following the law in attempting to transport 33 children into the Dominican Republic. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE Tenn. (LCR)—While the U.S. economy shows signs of experiencing a "jobless recovery," the country's 10 percent unemployment rate is keeping church budgets in a bind, a new study by LifeWay Research found. Yet in spite of the financial difficulty, many churches are launching new ministries to help families in need. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TALLADEGA, Ala. (BP)—Southern Baptists gave $56.5 million in 2009 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. The amount was 2.7 percent (or $1.5 million) off the previous year's giving mark and $8.5 million below the stated goal of $65 million. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land added his voice Friday to those calling for the release of 10 Baptist volunteers in Haiti, and in a letter to President Obama called the Haitian government's behavior "outrageous" and asked that the president "do everything in your considerable power to secure the release of these United States citizens." Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 KILLEEN, Texas (BP)—Not far from Fort Hood, Skyline Baptist Church has joined a unique prayer effort for U.S. troops deployed overseas. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)--He couldn't find the words to pray. He could only sing. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)--On a hot afternoon in a crowded, makeshift camp in Port-au-Prince, Jean Junior Cineas sits under a tarp suspended by a broomstick. He shares his faith with five Haitians left homeless after the Jan. 12 earthquake rocked their island nation. Soon, all five pray to receive Christ as their Savior. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—A new course designed to provide guidance in starting a women's ministry or enhance and expand an existing women's ministry is available online through the Florida Baptist Convention's website, www.flbaptist.org. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MERIDIAN, Idaho (BP)--Members of two Southern Baptist churches in Idaho are awaiting word on what a Haitian judge will decide Feb. 1 when he hears the case of 10 Americans accused of unlawfully trying to remove 33 children from Haiti. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Cornerstone Pregnancy Center in Orlando will host a "Walk for Life" Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. at Jay Blanchard Park. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches.Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LIVE OAK (FBW)—Van G. Freeman, pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Live Oak, died suddenly Jan. 10. He was 50. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- The Florida Baptist Convention has released a new video providing guidance for participation in the “Buckets of Hope” relief campaign to assist Haitians in the wake of the Jan. 12 earthquake.<br><br> In the four-minute video Fritz Wilson, director of Disaster Relief and Recovery for the Florida Baptist Convention, describes the contents and method of packing 5-gallon buckets that are being collected for distribution in Haiti. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)--Lamar E. Cooper is the interim president, as well as executive vice president, provost and professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, at Criswell College in Dallas. He is also a premillennial dispensationalist, who has to his credit the Ezekiel volume of the New American Commentary. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRANDON (FBW)- Robert (Bob) E. Brown, a short-term missionary with the International Mission Board, died Jan. 27 of a heart attack in Brandon, the IMB reported in a news release. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)-The Imagine If Great Commission Task Force reported on its website Jan. 13 that the group met for a second time on Jan. 11 at First Baptist Church in Orlando. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Realizing that the absence of fathers is an escalating crisis within the urban setting, Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church is waging an all-out campaign to change the hearts of men.<BR><BR> “If we are going to change the plight of the community, it will have to start with the family. As goes the family, so goes society,” explained Pastor Jeffery Singletary. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) -- The Florida Baptist Convention released today a new video updating its relief efforts in Haiti in the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the nation Jan. 12. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The South is the most religious region, the Northeast and a handful of Western states the least religious, and the rest of the country falls somewhere in between, according to a recently released survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—FamilyNet, a television and radio network formerly owned by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, has been sold once again. <br><br> Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries, which purchased FamilyNet from NAMB in October 2007, has sold the network to a private firm affiliated with Robert A. Schuller, son of TV preacher Robert Schuller. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)—Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and its undergraduate school, The College at Southeastern, granted degrees to 116 students during fall graduation ceremonies Dec. 18. <br><br> Ninety-eight graduates received their master’s or doctoral degrees, and 18 graduated with associate or bachelor’s degrees. The graduates came from 18 states and three foreign countries. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Their research papers are written and every classroom test taken. But New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s newest graduates will face one more exam for the rest of their earthly lives, NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said Dec. 19. The test—related to Proverbs 3:5-6—is how they will answer a defining question: “Are you going to choose to do what God has told you to do?” Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—The willingness of Jesus’ earthly father to take the pregnant Mary as his wife illustrates the obedience required of ministers in the face of opposition, Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said during the school’s Dec. 11 commencement ceremony. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—The uniqueness of the call to Christian ministry is bound up in the fact that ministers will not finish what they started because they are laying the foundation upon which God is constructing His church, R. Albert Mohler Jr. told graduates at fall commencement exercises Dec. 11 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s trustee executive committee has named new apartments in honor of Florida and Mississippi Baptists and approved a Korean-language doctor of ministry program. <br><br> With construction well underway of two new student apartment buildings as approved by trustees in October, the executive committee voted to name the buildings in honor of two of the seminary’s key partners, Florida and Mississippi Baptists. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The Florida Baptist Convention has produced two videos to seek support for its relief efforts in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 devastating earthquake in Haiti. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (BP)—Scott Pospisil knew it years ago. <br><br> He could see something unique in his eldest son. Ross Pospisil, now a senior linebacker at the U.S. Naval Academy who is preparing for the final game of an impressive four-year career, had plenty of typical boyish vigor, but there was something else. He also possessed a precocious tenderness. Ross loved to serve others. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 TOKYO (BP)—“Five-minute English! Five-minute English! Do you want to practice your English?” a college intern asked outside a busy Tokyo subway station as 27 teenage MKs—sons and daughters of Southern Baptist missionaries—looked on. <BR><BR> As several college missions interns modeled how to lead into a Gospel presentation while offering free English lessons, a Japanese woman stopped and watched. One of the MKs began talking to her and, within 30 minutes, the woman gave her life to Christ. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—A new publication, CommissionStories, was released in December by the International Mission Board. <br><br> The quarterly IMB publication will focus on today’s issues facing international missions, replacing The Commission magazine and To the ends of the earth. The Commission was first published in 1849; To the ends of the earth began in 2004. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—As Southern Baptists prepare to implement “God’s Plan for Sharing: Across North America” in the coming months, the North American Mission Board offers 10 steps toward reaching the goal. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 You’re invited to pray for every heart and every mile of North America, focusing specifically on those who need a relationship with Jesus Christ. Here are some ways you can prepare: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (BP)--A blue tarp tied to what's left of Shiloh Baptist Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, serves as a safe haven for some members who survived the Jan. 12 earthquake.<br><br> A few dozen families who lost their homes are living outside the church under the tarp. The earthquake damaged the building, collapsed the church's school and took the lives of their pastor, Bienne Lamerique, and three other church leaders. One member said that, of the 2,000-member congregation, only 100 have been accounted for since the 7.0 magnitude quake that is believed to have killed hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--In the wake of the worst earthquake Haiti has seen in more than 200 years, a Southern Baptist assessment team is on the ground and headed into the country, looking for ways to provide both immediate and long-term help to the people of that impoverished country. <br><br> Pockets of violence and looting are hindering the delivery of relief supplies in Port-au-Prince, according to news reports. The city's port remains blocked; food, water and other supplies are being distributed from the airport in larger but still inadequate amounts. Tens of thousands of survivors are sleeping in the streets and makeshift outdoor camps. The European Commission estimates 1.5 million people are homeless a week after the 7.0 earthquake. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JIMANI, Dominican Republic (BP)--As Southern Baptist disaster relief officials were heading to Haiti Jan. 19 to assess needs, International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries in neighboring Dominican Republic were providing immediate relief supplies, medical aid and spiritual counseling to survivors of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti the week before. <br><br> "We have asked almost all of our IMB missionaries in the Dominican Republic to set the majority of their other work aside and focus on the Haiti response," said Adam Hammond, the IMB's strategy leader for Central America and the Caribbean. "Pray that the Lord would lead us to the areas where we can be most effective, where we can be used the most. We don't want to go in and spin our wheels in a hundred different directions. We want to go in and do what God is calling us to do...." Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Roy Huling, 73, long-time Bible teacher and soul winner at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Jacksonville died Oct. 18. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 William S. Martin, 83, retired pastor and educator, died Dec. 27 in Bradenton. In a 50-year ministry, he served as pastor of nine churches, including First Baptist Church in Ruskin and Community Baptist Church in Oneco. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Two regional conferences will be offered this spring to help ministry assistants improve and enhance their ministry skills. <br><br> The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville will host a regional event Feb.12 which will feature workshops: "Office Management," and "Bloom Where You Are Planted," led by Adrianne Smith, ministry specialist with LifeWay Christian Resources; and "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball," led by Roy Saint, associate, Leadership and Life Development Department, Florida Baptist Convention. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (FBW)—"Proclaiming the Word of God" is the subject of the second annual preaching contest sponsored by the Florida Baptist Historical Society. All 2010 entries should be submitted before April 1. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Three high school teens, Jessica Bodmer of Key West, Rachel Yeargain of Pensacola, and Stephanie Rodriguez of Port Richey, have been selected as Florida Acteens state advisory panelists for 2009-2010. <br><br> The young women were selected on the basis of their church, school and community involvement said Cindy Goodwin, director of the Florida Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministries Department. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Baptist College of Florida senior B.J. Shelton found out earlier this year that God provides. And sometimes, He provides in ways that defy the norm. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW) – While Southern Baptists officially observed Sanctity of Human Life Sunday on Jan. 17, others in the pro-life community will be doing so in the coming week and on Sunday, Jan. 24, two days after the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 that legalized abortion on demand in America.<br><br> Florida Family Policy Council, a pro-family group based in Orlando, released on Jan. 19 a listing of pro-life events scheduled across Florida to raise public awareness about the right-to-life and the aftermath of the Roe decision. Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--The devastating earthquake that shook Haiti Jan. 12 has claimed the life of a leading Haitian Baptist pastor in Port-au-Prince, according to reports received from the vice president of the Baptist Convention of Haiti, located in the northern Haiti city of Cap-Haitien.<br><br> Bienne Lamerique, 56-year-old pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Port-au-Prince, died of injuries sustained when his house collapsed. Several Haitian Baptist pastors buried him without a coffin -- because none was available -- Jan. 14, according to e-mails received by Mark Rutledge, International Mission Board (IMB) missionary to the Dominican Republic on stateside assignment in Richmond, Va. He and his wife, Peggy, work among the Haitian people and served within Haiti for 26 years. Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The fear of rejection is no excuse to avoid sharing the Gospel, says speaker and author Bill Fay, who suggests a change in perspective is all that’s needed. <br><br> Fay’s book Share Jesus Without Fear has been used by churches and Christian schools nationwide as an evangelism tool, and he regularly speaks at Share Jesus Without Fear seminars. Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WINTER HAVEN (FBC)—Joe Caroccio, a single father raising four children, gave up smoking when he began asking, “Does God really want me to spend my money to buy cigarettes?” <br><br> Judy Bailey pays cash for every non-fixed item in her household budget and asks herself before making a personal purchase, “Can this money be better spent on a Kingdom purpose?” Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The home of Pastor T.L. Holton Sr., pastor of Peace Baptist Church in Branford, was heavily damaged in an early morning fire Jan. 11. Efforts are underway in Suwannee Baptist Association to clean up the site and to replace the pastor’s mobile home on his five-acre rural lot, according to Director of Missions Fritz Fountain. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 In the wake of a natural disaster, some needs are obvious: food, shelter, water. Others go unnoticed, but the consequences can be even more serious. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Mary Lou Hendry is on the telephone receiving news about someone’s early Christmas present. That Christmas present is the finalization of an adoption on Dec.18 of a little girl who may have been aborted had it not been for the Sanctity of Human Life ministry partnership between the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) across the state. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches.Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 DEFUNIAK SPRINGS (FBW)—Two west Florida young women recently made decisions to keep their unborn children after contacting the Pregnancy Support Center of First Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs. Volunteers in the six-year-old clinic learned of the women’s decisions on the same day—Dec. 8. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 OSCEOLA (BP)—At the age of 17, Dawn was in crisis. <BR><BR> She was pregnant and alone. She couldn’t tell her friends—the gossip and humiliation at school would be unbearable. She couldn’t tell her parents—they would be so hurt and disappointed. She was a teen facing an adult decision all alone. Is it any wonder she made the wrong choice? Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Non-embryonic, or adult, stem cells continue to show remarkable results in treating injuries and diseases. <br><br> In recently reported therapies: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The case of a Belgian man diagnosed as comatose for 23 years but conscious the entire time illustrates the need to treat such patients with dignity, a pro-life bioethics specialist says. <br><br> A recently released scientific paper reported on Rom Houben, who was paralyzed in a car accident in 1983 and determined to be in a coma or persistent vegetative state (PVS), according to the Daily Mail newspaper. A re-evaluation three years ago by neurological expert Steven Laureys found Houben was aware of what was happening around him but had no control of his body. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–Coming to theaters Jan. 22, “To Save A Life” is the story of an all-American teen Jake Taylor. The movie, aimed at teens, was written and produced by youth pastor Jim Britts and executive pastor Steven Foster of New Song Community Church in Oceanside, Calif. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 Jacksonville (FBC)—Ninety computers glow in the black-light lit room, connecting a virtual world of role-playing fantasy. The setting serves a growing cyber culture where video gamers create pseudonyms or “tags” to cloak themselves in anonymity and escape from personal relationships, family and faith. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Fox News contributor Brit Hume continues to face sharp criticism for remarks he made about Christianity offering Tiger Woods an opportunity for redemption, but a Southern Baptist leader has expressed support for Hume’s comments. <br><br> “In a land that supposedly cherishes freedom of speech, it is interesting to me to see how strongly persons have objected to Brit Hume’s comments regarding Tiger Woods and his faith,” Frank Page, immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Baptist Press. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program are 0.63 percent behind the same time frame at the outset of 2009, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Resources are being provided to Florida Baptist churches as they respond to the “Call to a Day of Prayer,” issued for Sunday, Jan. 31 by Johnnie Hunt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. <br><br> Rick Shepherd, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Prayer and Spiritual Awakening Department, said PrayerLink, the work group of the state prayer coordinators across North America, as well as prayer leaders of the North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, Woman’s Missionary Union and LifeWay Christian Resources are joining in calling for the day of prayer. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRYAN, Texas (BP)—Abby Johnson had never felt so alone. Sitting in her Planned Parenthood office and weeping, Johnson, who was raised Southern Baptist, knew God had called her to leave her job as director of the women's health and abortion clinic and join forces with the Coalition for Life advocates just down the street.<br><br> The call was unmistakable. But the courage to take the step of faith to leave her job with no other prospects in sight-and invest herself in a movement that was diametrically opposed to the life she had lived the past eight years-was harder to muster. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BRYAN, Texas (BP)—The story of Abby Johnson is an example of the subtle atheism that often snares collegians. <br><br> Not well-grounded in her faith or connected to a church or a campus ministry, Johnson was a freshman at Texas A&M University when she became a Planned Parenthood volunteer, naive about the organization’s pro-abortion agenda. She ultimately committed eight years of her life to the work of Planned Parenthood until a life-changing experience compelled her to leave the organization and turn to God. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MAPLE RIDGE, British Columbia (BP)—Many people who have seen “The Scarf,” a new feature-length film produced by a Canadian Baptist church, are giving it “two thumbs up.” <BR><BR> “This is really a tremendous piece of work,” said Alan Braun, pastor of Royal Heights Baptist Church in Delta, British Columbia. “They’ve done a super job, way beyond what I thought they would be able to do.” <BR><BR> The reaction is even more surprising when considering the fact that the church behind the film—The Connection, a Canadian National Baptist Convention church plant in metro Vancouver—has no more than 50 people in attendance on Sundays. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP)—Adrian Rogers’ legacy of real-world, lived-out faith in Jesus Christ will be preserved for many generations that never had the opportunity to sit under his teaching, the CEO of Love Worth Finding Ministries has announced. <BR><BR> Bill Skelton, who for almost 20 years worked closely with the legendary pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, told Baptist Press the ministry is publishing a Bible that incorporates the major themes of sermons Rogers preached over the course of his remarkable 33-year pastorate at the Memphis-area church. Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BATON ROUGE, La. (BP)—One person saw the need and another person saw the opportunity, but it was the Sunday School teacher equipped with the right curriculum who brought the vision into focus. <br><br> Deleece Nichols, daycare director at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., noticed too many parents of her preschoolers were not attending Sunday School. She mentioned her observation to her pastor, Randy Johnson, who then asked his assistant Dottie Gore to pray about starting a class specifically for parents of preschoolers. Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Pro-family issues remain the most often cited concern in resolutions adopted at the 41 state Baptist convention meetings. Prayer for the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and concern for military forces followed as the next most often mentioned in resolutions voiced by messengers to the annual gatherings. <br><br> Messengers in Kentucky, South Carolina and Wyoming expressed concern over threats to the sanctity of human life appearing in proposed federal health care legislation. The Wyoming resolution encouraged other believers “to seriously consider the terrible impact” that government-funded abortion would have on the nation and resolve to “prayerfully prepare to actively respond, as God would desire and lead, to this national wanton disregard for innocent and defenseless human life.” Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)—Johnny Hunt will undergo surgery Jan. 7 to remove a cancerous prostate, according to a spokesman for the Atlanta-area church where Hunt serves as pastor. Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)-Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land was among the conservative leaders honored during the first Weyrich Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether a state university may deny recognition to a student religious organization that requires its leaders and members to affirm its beliefs. Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A Uyghur house church pastor in China’s Xinjiang region has been sentenced to 15 years in prison-the most severe sentence possible-for granting media interviews outside of China. Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Over half of the state Baptist conventions have decreased their budgets for the coming year, according to reports from their annual meetings. And yet, six of the 23 conventions making cuts are staying on course to increase the portion of Cooperative Program gifts forwarded for ministry beyond their states. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Helen Driscoll, one of the first female graduates of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a trailblazing Christian educator, has died at 93. <br><br> Driscoll died Dec. 6 in Metarie, La., in the New Orleans area. In 1956, she and her husband, the late pastor Paul Driscoll, founded Mid-City Baptist School, now Crescent City Christian School in Metairie, which serves children from daycare through high school. Driscoll also authored two books and numerous Bible study materials. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 EDITOR’S NOTE: Dec. 26 marks the fifth anniversary since a series of devastating tsunamis hit the Indian Ocean in 2004. One of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, the storm struck 11 countries and left more than 225,000 people dead. Southern Baptists gave more than $17 million in tsunami relief funds. The following article shares the journey of an Indian couple, Paramesvaran and Choodamani, in finding hope again, underscoring the help Southern Baptists were able to provide through International Mission Board representative Cole Elbridge* and Baptists’ giving through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.<br><br> TAMIL NADU, India (BP)—“Daddy, what’s that?” <br><br> Paramesvaran looked toward the ocean. Curiosity turned to horror as a 30-foot wave bore down on him and 5-year-old son Kirubasan. He grabbed the boy and ran. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0900 BEIJING (BP)—In the past 20 years, central China has been growing cities at a record pace. In fact, 223 villages and towns in central China have reached a population of more than 1 million each, with an additional 250 topping 400,000. The growth presents new opportunities for rural people, who are moving to urban areas in record numbers. Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—”You could be killed for talking about Jesus around here.” <br><br> That’s what a Muslim named Bershi* told missionary Luke Jenkins* after Jenkins shared the Gospel with him. Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—At first glance it doesn’t look like a cross. Diamond-shaped with a handle, it is obscured beneath decoration and ornate carvings. <BR><BR> Religious leaders carry these crosses as they guide more than 42 million Ethiopians each week in praying, singing and memorizing Scripture. This may not sound that different from many churches in the United States. Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Jodi Nichols cries when she talks about it. Her husband Kevin says he would rather be hit with a baseball bat. <BR><BR> The couple from Wheeler, Miss., committed their lives to missions nearly two years ago. They planned to move to Russia with their four children in January. But in the midst of a rocky economy and shortfalls in missions giving, they won’t be going anytime soon. Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Joseph C. McClendon Jr. of DeFuniak Springs, retired Baptist pastor and director of missions, died Dec. 10 at age 83. Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Vicki Lu Phillips, 63, a volunteer with the Suncoast Baptist Association food pantry and prayer ministry, died Nov. 7 in Cadillac, Mich Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PHILIPPINES (FBW)—Lt. Col. Chaplain Steve Thompson, pastor of Crown Point Baptist Church in Jacksonville, recently reported what he says he believes are the first baptisms of U. S. military personnel in the Philippines in the seven years “we have trained and encouraged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to deal with their terrorist threats,” he said. <br><br> Deployed since Aug. 15, Thompson serves with the Air National Guard in the Asian nation. Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches.Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form.Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Internships are over. Portfolios are finished. Finals are graded. A collective sigh of relief from students at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville has swept the campus. For 56 BCF seniors, the end of the fall 2009 semester brought more than just Christmas break, it brought an inspiring commencement exercise and a charge for the future. Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (FBW)—First published in 1978, Baptist Dishes Worth Blessing, is a unique cookbook compiled by students, faculty and alumni of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. <br><br> With a new second edition scheduled to be released in January, the classic guide offers “practical culinary solutions” for an assortment of events, according to a press release. Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Members of the Celebration Choir and Orchestra of Fruit Cove Baptist Church spent a rainy Saturday morning Dec. 13 manning the feeding lines at Trinity Rescue Mission in downtown Jacksonville. They also sang and prayed for the guests at the facility. Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC) —“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” <br><br> Reciting from memory the Christmas story found in Luke 2, John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, reminded Convention staff of the true meaning of the season during the chapel Dec. 16 at the Baptist Building in Jacksonville. Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (BP)-Thousands of soldiers will be away from their families this Christmas, but graduate student Matt Hodge hopes a Christmas carol he has written will help them feel closer to their families during the holiday season.<br> The carol, "What is Christmas?" came out of a brainstorming session between graduate student Hodge and Frieda Gebert, associate professor of music at Campbellsville University, which is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 MONTICELLO (FBW)—After nearly three years of not seeing many former fellow members of Little River Baptist Church, 94-year-old Amanda Oucts took the initiative and organized a three-day reunion in October. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Linda Livingston, program manager for Florida Baptist Children's Homes' Adult Day Training program in Lakeland, works on a project with clients. Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 ALBANY, Ga. (BP)—The movie-making church that filmed “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants” announced its next release Nov. 15—“Courageous,” a movie about fatherhood that the church hopes will convict men to rise up and be spiritual leaders of their children and families. Alex and Stephen Kendrick, associate pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church, said the script—which the two brothers have not finished—will focus on the lives of four policemen and their struggle to be better fathers. Not all of them succeed. It will be the fourth movie from the church, which saw its last two films, Facing the Giants (2006) and Fireproof (2008), surprise movie observers and gross $10 million and $33.5 million, respectively, despite relatively small budgets by Hollywood’s standards. Fireproof was the top grossing independent film last year. The church gets only a small slice of the revenue and puts it toward various ministries. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBC)—Beginning with the spring semester, Florida Baptist Theological Education will offer biweekly, instead of weekly, graduate classes in Orlando, Graceville and Miami. <br><br> Undergraduate classes in Tampa have been meeting biweekly for the past two years. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the <i>Witness</i>. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our <a href="letter.fbw">online form</a>. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Three events designed to train persons to serve as transitional pastors will be broadcast in four locations through interactive video during 2010. <br><br> The “Transitional Pastor” conference, set for Jan. 21-22, July 29-30, and Sept. 9-10, will be broadcast at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola; First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, First Baptist Church in Orlando, and the Urban Ministries Center in Hialeah. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Two Iranian women who are converts to Christianity were released Nov. 18 after being held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison since March 5. <br><br> Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, and Maryam Rostampour, 27, were released without bail after 256 days in jail, but they still face charges of apostasy (conversion from Islam to Christianity), the human rights organization International Christian Concern reported within hours after their release. No court date has been set by Iranian authorities. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our <a target="new" href="floridafocusform.fbw"> online form.</a> Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Ten leaders of a Chinese house church have received years-long criminal detention and “re-education” labor camp sentences for their attempts to protest an attack against their facilities in mid-September, according to reports by the ChinaAid human rights organization. <br><br> The harshest punishments—criminal detention sentences handed down Nov. 25—entail incarceration in a high-security prison where inmates often are mentally abused, starved and beaten, according to a spokeswoman for ChinaAid. Yang Rongli, wife of pastor Wang Xiaoguang of the Linfen House Church in the northeastern Chinese city of Linfen with more than 4 million people, received a seven-year sentence while her husband, Wang Xiaoquang, received three years. Three others also received criminal detentions. Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 BEIJING (BP)—In the private dining room of one of China’s restaurants, Chef Su Ning* sings a song from a new hymnal. Her face glows as she finds the melody, marking time by drumming her fingers on the table. Others around the table join her as she adds motions to the hymn, smiling as she remembers one gesture then falters at another. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (BP)—The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force made excellent progress in its Nov. 30-Dec. 1 meeting in Atlanta and plans to present a substantial report during the February meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee in Nashville, Tenn., task force chairman Ronnie Floyd said. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)—Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt has announced that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo initial treatment in January. <br><br> Hunt, 57, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church of Woodstock, reported the diagnosis in a statement to Southern Baptists released through Baptist Press Nov. 23. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 FUERTEVENTURA, Canary Islands (BP)—New arrivals to the Spanish island of Fuerteventura might wonder if they’ve landed on an outpost of the moon. Dirt resembling a lighter version of red Georgia clay covers both mountains and foothills. No trees, no greenery—except plants at the airport sustained by a massive irrigation system. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—This fall LifeWay Christian Resources celebrates the 30th anniversary of publishing printed Sunday School lessons for special needs learners, resources that were rare prior to the late 1970s. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptist started sixteen new churches in October, 2009. The following is a listing of new churches by association: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (LCR)—For the second year in a row LifeWay Christian Resources shared resources and hosted a booth at the Catalyst Conference, an event geared specifically to Christian leaders under the age of 40. This year’s conference, themed “On Your Mark,” celebrated Catalyst’s 10th anniversary and drew more than 13,000 people to the Gwinnett Center in Atlanta.<br><br>Catalyst sessions addressed a wide variety of topics including organizational and personal leadership, integrity, character, relationships and vision. Well-known Christian leaders, including LifeWay Research Director Ed Stetzer, spoke to attendees about leadership, missional engagement and ministry in today’s culture. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—The 40 Days for Life campaign reported more than 580 unborn children were saved and eight abortion clinic workers left the business by the close of the initiative Nov. 1. <br><br> In the waning days of this fall’s effort, the initiative surpassed 2,000 unborn babies saved in all the campaigns it has conducted, national director David Bereit reported. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Nightlight Christian Adoptions, which has become known for its Snowflakes frozen embryo adoption program, has established a $50,000 scholarship fund for couples who would like to adopt but lack the finances to do so. The fund was started in honor of Nightlight’s 50th anniversary. The agency expects to seek donations to the fund next year. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The astonishing growth of America’s Hispanic population presents great opportunities—as well as challenges—for Southern Baptist witness and ministry, a consortium of convention leaders were told Oct. 2.<br><br>The Hispanic population is growing faster than any other ethnic-cultural segment of the U.S. population—tripling since 1980 and expected to triple again by 2050, said Daniel Sanchez, professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, during Hispanic Consortium ’09 in Nashville, Tenn. Projections indicate Hispanics in the U.S. will number 128 million by 2050—nearly 30 percent of the entire population. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the <em>Witness</em> to Florida Baptist churches.<strong> Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event</strong>, to <em>Florida Baptist Witness</em>, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our <a target="new" href="floridafocusform.fbw"> online form.</a> Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PANAMA CITY (LCR)—Marriage needs to be taken seriously, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dull. <br><br>Couples attending the Festival of Marriage in Panama City, Fla., Sept. 25-27, 2009, had the opportunity to not only have fun in a beautiful setting but also to gain skills to make their marriages more fulfilling. The couples’ event was sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Carson Brittain, 94, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Lake City, died Oct. 2 as a result of a long-term illness. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 SHREVEPORT, La. (BP)—Despite the rocky economy and a red-line budget, International Mission Board trustees took a step of faith Nov. 10 when they celebrated the appointment of 55 new missionaries at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La., in conjunction with the Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting.<br><br>Earlier this year, 25 of the 55 appointees were told they would be delayed going to the mission field until 2010 because there wasn’t enough money to send them. The global recession, decreased giving through the Cooperative Program and a $29 million shortfall in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering left the IMB with a limited budget, forcing trustees to restrict new missionary appointments. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Carl Stroller* doesn’t drink vodka. But his ministry might not be the same without it. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0900 TEHRAN, Iran (BP)—How can you reach people groups in Iran if you cannot live among them? You train Iranian Christians to do it and look for Iranians living elsewhere. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida is hosting its annual Holiday Homecoming Dec 4., 5-7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Village on Sanders Ave. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—A diverse group of Christian leaders joined together Nov. 20 to declare a commitment to defend the sanctity of human life, biblical marriage and religious liberty without compromise.<br><br>In a 4,700-word statement named the Manhattan Declaration, about 150 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox signers said they were coming together to “embrace our obligation” to speak and act in support of the dignity of all human beings, marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and the freedom to express religious convictions. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 The Christmas signs are $3 and can be ordered by contacting Scott Lake Baptist Church at 863-644-6444 or contacting Boyd Pridmore at 863-513-8143 or boydpridmore@yahoo.com. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 KBAL TAOL, Cambodia (BP)—David* never imagined he’d use ghosts as a way to share the Gospel. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)—Two organizations related to the Florida Baptist Convention met in Pensacola Nov. 9 for their annual meetings. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)—The four entities supported in part by the Florida Baptist State Convention delivered their reports in the form of video presentations at the FBSC annual meeting at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola Nov. 10-11. Reports include were made by The Baptist College of Florida, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, Florida Baptist Financial Services and <I>Florida Baptist Witness</I>. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NEW DELHI, India (BP)—As the sun sets in India, the ceremonial preparations subside. Chanting voices strengthen and join the rhythm of beating drums. Flames consume herbs and spices as golden incense burners pass among the Hindu worshippers. A marble goddess looms over the Ganges River, facing the crowds. Darkness—physical and spiritual—hovers over the multitudes. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)--Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt has announced that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo initial treatment in January.<br><br> Hunt, 57, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church of Woodstock, reported the diagnosis in a statement to Southern Baptists released through Baptist Press Nov. 23. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBC)—Using the story of Jonah as her backdrop, speaker Elizabeth Luter challenged approximately 150 women to answer God’s call on their lives at the Florida’s Ministers’ Wives Luncheon Nov. 10 in Pensacola. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW)—The Florida Baptist State Convention, in the Monday evening session of its annual meeting, honored pastors who have served more than 60 years in the ministry. Five ministers were introduced from the podium to a standing ovation from messengers and guests: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the <em>Witness</em> to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to <em>Florida Baptist Witness</em>, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our <a target="new" href="floridafocusform.fbw"> online form.</a> Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBW)—Every Monday morning for the past 12 years Doug Mason has left his home in Clearwater at 5 a.m. to drive to the Children’s Homes offices in Lakeland where he served as the property manager for all campus facilities across the state. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)--Some religious organizations will be prevented from acting on their beliefs in making employment decisions regarding homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people if the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is passed, a Senate committee has been told. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 UPDATED: Nov. 14, 2:00 p.m.<br><br> GAINESVILLE (FBW)-Freda Crawford, pastor’s wife and missions advocate at Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville, died at Arkansas Cancer Research Center in Little Rock, Ark., the morning of Nov. 12 after a ten-year battle with multiple myeloma. She was named “Pastor’s Wife of the Year” by the Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference only three days before her death. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW) – Florida Baptist State Convention president John Cross announced the 30 persons he has appointed to an “Imagine If … Great Commission Task Force” during the final session of the annual meeting on Nov. 10.<br /><br /> The task force was authorized by the state convention earlier in the day to study how Florida Baptists “can work more effectively and more efficiently together in following Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission.”<br /> Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PENSACOLA (FBW) - The Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting will proceed as planned officers have decided, even though Tropical Storm Ida is forecasted to make landfall in the northern Gulf Coast area early Tuesday morning. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)—In what might be arguably the most significant meeting yet for the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, 22 executive directors of Southern Baptist state conventions met with them Oct. 27, to offer some competing, some complementing views and vision about the Southern Baptist Convention and what is needed for a Great Commission resurgence. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Three years ago Jacksonville businessman Carldon Lahey made a contribution to Wolfson Children’s Hospital after reading a story about an 18-year-old patient with bone cancer who was raising money to help the hospital. That gift was the first step in beginning Christ’s Starfish Foundation to help children in pediatric hospitals and families of non-cancer pediatric patients. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Jacksonville (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola will be available for purchase in CD format during the meetings. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 GRACEVILLE (BCF)–Trustees at The Baptist College of Florida met Oct. 8-9 and received a favorable report from a Special Study Committee about operations, affirmed previous plans to authorize a graduate school, and considered other reports and actions. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 <p>A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the <em>Witness</em> to Florida Baptist churches.<strong> Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event</strong>, to <em>Florida Baptist Witness</em>, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our <a target="new" href="floridafocusform.fbw"> online form.</a> Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version.</p> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 LAKELAND (FBCH)—Florida Baptist Children’s Homes in November during National Adoption Awareness Month, is focusing on the need for more families to consider adopting an older child. November 8 is recognized as National Orphan Sunday. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—For these five churches, nothing represents the heart and history of the Southern Baptist Convention as much as the Cooperative Program. The thread that ties these congregations together is their commitment that, via cooperative missions, more can be done to reach the world for Christ than what any single congregation can do alone. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NORTH AFRICA (BP)—The truck we were traveling in through the Atlas Mountains rounded the curve of a hillside to reveal a meadow spreading below. As the sun burnished the field with its afternoon rays, an old Berber woman and girl tended a large flock of sheep. We slowed the truck and then stopped, thinking we might photograph this pastoral scene. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—An invitation by the Vatican for Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their liturgical heritage could mean an increase in the number of married Catholic priests, leading to a possible reexamination of the celibacy requirement altogether. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Most Americans, including far too many government officials, have no idea that children under the age of 18 are being shipped from state to state as child prostitutes, according to a report from an anti-sex trafficking organization. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In a first-of-its-kind venture, a Christian music group is recruiting people for missions while promoting Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program during its fall concert tour. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE (BP)–<i>Newsweek</i> magazine featured recently the invention of a digital Bible called Glo (pronounced “glow”), which includes “HD video, photographs, maps, reading plans, 360-degree virtual tours and a unique zoomable interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on PC computers.” Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Crossover 2009 will touch the lives of families in 16 communities in the Greater Pensacola area. Many of these venues have been cultivated by Pensacola Bay Baptist churches. Florida Baptist volunteers willing to walk alongside of Pensacola Baptists in this effort are still needed. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 LUTZ (FBW)—“We think you’re going to work out ok,” Idlewild Baptist Church deacon chairman Bill Brown quipped Oct. 4 as the church celebrated Ken Whitten’s 20th anniversary as senior pastor of the Lutz congregation. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 “Rocka My World,” an “Xtreme Missions 2009” event for children grades 1-6 and their leaders will be held Nov. 14 at First Baptist Church in New Port Richey. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary is hosting an alumni breakfast Tues., Nov. 10 at 7 a.m. at International House of Pancakes (IHOP) at 6707 Pensacola Blvd. in Pensacola. David Skinner, professor emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew is scheduled to speak. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Charles Roesel, First Baptist Leesburg’s pastor emeritus, was named Presidential Ambassador of the North American Mission Board Oct. 15. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Charlie Fountain, a bus driver at Lake Buffum Baptist Church in Fort Meade, believes a proposal for churches to coop together in case of breakdowns would be beneficial and provide “insurance” for churches when taking long trips. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Kenneth Evans, 72, retired Florida minister of music, died Oct. 8 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Reaching the world with the Gospel can be like working a jigsaw puzzle—but with half the pieces missing. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 ORLANDO (FBW)—Orlando Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson released ex-Muslim runaway Rifqa Bary to Ohio authorities Oct. 23 after receiving proof of her immigration status and being satisfied that she will be able to continue her educational program, according to various news accounts. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In the debate over Intelligent Design, William Dembski is wary of a new trend dubbed “libel tourism” that may force Americans to submit to lawsuits in other countries for alleged crimes that otherwise would be protected by the First Amendment. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 Persons attending the Small Groups Conference 2009 can participate either in person or electronically during the Nov. 5 event at Covenant Community Church in Sanford. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 DALLAS (BP)--"This is the best climate in 30 years for all of us to work together," Louisiana Baptist leader David Hankins said in representing state convention leaders in comments to the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0900 WASHINGTON (BP)—Three of the four churches honored this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the prestigious Energy Star Congregation Award are Southern Baptist. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0900 PITTSBURGH, Pa. (NAMB)—In North American Mission Board missionary Lamar Duke’s native Alabama, there’s one Southern Baptist church for every 1,452 people. Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0900 ATLANTA (BP)—With applause and cheers, International Mission Board trustees laid the foundation for significant changes to the board’s ability to impact lostness and serve churches at their Sept. 8-10 meeting in Atlanta. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0900 HARRISONBURG, Va. (NAMB)—For North American missionaries David and Shirley Proffitt, their passion is winning the next generation to Christ by planting new churches near college campuses. And this passion has turned into a family affair. Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0900 NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Pinstripes and solids abounded when New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students picked up their new suits May 10-11, thanks to Jim Tatum's "Suits for Servants" ministry. Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0900 <i>The Gospel has been carried to West Africa for more than 150 years. But today, it remains parched ground. Meet eight missionary couples who've sacrificed everything to be Jesus' witnesses in a harsh and unforgiving land.</i> Wed, 06 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0900 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--It may not be wise to have a living will but, instead, a "Will to Live," as the National Right to Life Committee describes it. Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0900 <p><strong>UPDATED: Mar 31, 1:15 PM EST</strong></p> <p>PINELLAS PARK (FBW/BP)--Terri Schiavo, the 41-year-old disabled woman at the center of a nationwide life-and-death debate, died Thursday morning in her Florida hospice -- nearly two weeks after her feeding tube was pulled.</p> Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Every church in Florida has a story to tell, and congregations of all sizes and styles across the Sunshine State have found an effective way to get their story out via the Church Newsletter Service offered by <em>Florida Baptist Witness</em>. Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0900 Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0900 SARASOTA (FBW)–Colonial Oaks Baptist Church, Sarasota, recently completed a multi-million dollar transaction in which pastor Gary Roy said the church saw God's hand at work. Tue, 03 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0900 FORT LAUDERDALE (FBW)-After U.S. Army Captain Eric Olsen of Fort Lauderdale wrote his family about the needy children he saw in Iraq, his family sought the help of their church, First Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, in filling his request for soccer equipment. Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Florida Baptists nominated by the 2004 SBC Committee on Nominations and elected by messengers to the annual meeting June 15-16 in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention center were. Wed, 05 May 2004 00:00:00 -0900 JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Jim Tatum is a layperson who leads by example. Whether he is witnessing or selling suits, his gift of giving is more than a personality trait and his servitude and concern for others are more than a lifestyle. To Tatum these are all an answer to God’s claim on his life. Wed, 08 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0900 Nominations and appointments to state boards and committees have been announced by the Committee on Nominations in preparation for the Florida Baptist State Convention in Tampa, November 10-11, 2003. Messengers to the convention will be asked to vote on the nominations, but the appointments are not subject to actions by the convention. Thu, 14 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0900 The Witness has a new look. Thu, 14 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0900 First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, which originated the FAITH Sunday School Evangelism Strategy, will help FAITH kick off its five-year anniversary in 2003 by hosting a National FAITH Institute Jan. 27-30. Thu, 14 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0900 Situated on one of the busiest intersections in Pensacola, Olive Baptist Church has long been recognized for its many forms of community ministry. However, never before has this 8,000 member body been entrenched in ministry such as it has faced in the last year.