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ROME (BP)–Pope John Paul II, who played a key role in the demise of communism and who championed pro-life and pro-family causes worldwide, died April 2 at the Vatican. He was 84.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (BP)—Southern Baptist relief workers in Indonesia rushed March 29 to join a relief team already surveying damage on Nias, the island off Sumatra’s western coast devastated by a second massive earthquake in the region.

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Several Florida Baptist churches celebrated Easter in sanctuaries that are newly repaired and remodeled from summer hurricane damage. Eastside Baptist Church in Milton met for the first time in its partly repaired sanctuary and First Baptist Church, Lake Worth, showed off its completed, repaired and re-modeled buildings Easter, March 27. Other churches are still waiting for repairs to be completed.

Here are several things that I wanted to share with you.

Not many things get to us like the recent events involving nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford. Jessica was a beautiful, radiant, energetic third grader whose smile could lighten up any place she was. Then, the unthinkable happened—from her own bedroom, she was abducted and her life was taken.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Each summer nearly 5,000 Florida Baptist Vacation Bible School (VBS) workers receive training at Associational VBS clinics. The clinics familiarize volunteers with the most current VBS curriculum and provide tips on working with the children and families who attend this yearly outreach, evangelism, and prospect-discovering event. Approximately 200,000 children enroll in Vacation Bible School each summer.

WESTVILLE (FBW)-The parsonage of New Hope Baptist Church in Westville was heavily damaged by fire March 23. Sixty-eight-year-old pastor Lindsey Martin was hospitalized four days for smoke inhalation; his wife, Carol, escaped without injury.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW) – As the Florida legislature turns its attention beyond the Terri Schiavo case, Bill Bunkley told Florida Baptist Witness the hard feelings engendered by well-meaning, but “offensive lobbying efforts” by “out-of-town advocates” has resulted in “strained relationships with some members of the Florida Senate.”

TAMPA (FBW)—Just as the responsibility of wedding planning falls to the mother of the bride, much of the planning for the upcoming Southern Baptist Ministers’ Wives luncheon is in the hands of Tampa’s Ginny Whitten. As president of the organization, she and her fellow officers are in the final stages of preparing for 1,500 guests June 21 at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.

WINTER HAVEN (FBC)—Students interested in learning more about local and global missions can hear stories from the mission field during the Youth on Mission Rally at Parkland Baptist Church April 23.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Hurricane Charley’s forceful winds uprooted more than the banyan tree in the Conger family’s yard this past August; it overturned their lives as they lost their jobs, home and all of their personal belongings.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—When the eye of Hurricane Charley bore down on the Arcadia home of Pastor Ken Galloway eight months ago, the storm knocked down his brick fence and smashed the chimney onto the roof tearing holes through the shingles, ceiling and sheetrock. Then the winds of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne slashed across the home from the east coast, causing further damage.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Southern Baptist Disaster Relief responses in 2004 reached an all-time high, including record numbers for meals prepared, buildings repaired and cleanup and recovery projects. More than 15,000 trained Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers gave their time, talents and energies in response to 193 natural disasters which included hurricanes, an earthquake, floods, tornadoes and ice storms.

COCOA BEACH (FBW)-During what First Baptist Church, Cocoa Beach, is calling “Extreme Faith - Renovate Our Church,” members and other volunteers plan to work 24/7 to repair and renovate 30,000 square feet in three buildings. Church leadership is seeking volunteers to work during its “two-week window” May 2-14.