Archive for February 2011
HOMESCHOOLING: Prosecution is waged abroad; troubling trends abound in US
NASHVILLE, Tenn.?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."I think what we're seeing is unfortunately a growing trend," Michael Farris, chancellor of Patrick Henry College, [...]
Continue Reading
Rainer: 'Reader discernment tags' scuttled; efforts to increase Bible literacy prioritized
WILLIAMSBURG?Information urging the purchasers of some books sold by LifeWay Christian Resources to read those books "with discernment" will no longer be distributed in the company's books stores, according to President Thom Rainer. The practice began two years ago and facilitated the stocking of controversial titles such as "The Shack." [...]
Continue ReadingEzell: Priority is evangelistic church planting
WILLIAMSBURG?Outlining plans for a renewed emphasis on church planting, North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell told state Baptist newspaper editors, "We're not just doing things to do things. We want believers to connect with churches?existing churches or a new church plant. Everything has to be driven to the [...]
Continue ReadingSBC president: Materialism stymies discipleship, mission
WILLIAMSBURG, Va.?Southern Baptists must stop idolizing materialism if they are to return to their first love of Jesus Christ, declared Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright in speaking to the Association of Baptist State Papers Feb. 16. It's a focus he has shared across the country in calling [...]
Continue ReadingExec. Committee back in 'fiscally responsible position,' Page says
WILLIAMSBURG?"We are now back in a fiscally responsible position," Frank Page, Southern Baptists' Executive Committee president, told state Baptist paper editors on Feb. 16 during the group's annual gathering.Page, who assumed the job last fall, was referring to a 19-percent reduction in personnel and a proposed budget of $1.25 [...]
Continue ReadingA call to prayer: Former Muslim, others plead with Christians to pray for Egypt
GARLAND?"We need to pray that God will influence the process of delegating the power of government in Egypt away from the military and into the people's hands so they can elect a civilian government," said Abdul, an Egyptian Christian now ministering to Muslims in the United States, and whose [...]
Continue ReadingJune Richards Scholarship to benefit women at SWBTS
In a gentle voice true to her northern Louisiana upbringing, June Richards said she was humbled by and grateful for the establishment of a scholarship that will bear her name at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The seed money for the June Richards Endowed Scholarship came from Dorothy Patterson, who wanted [...]
Continue ReadingFocusing our North American Mission
In the short time that Kevin Ezell has led the North American Mission Board he has skidded Southern Baptists' largest bureaucracy into a turn few thought it could make. I'm optimistic that the organizational changes and priorities he has staked out will give our denomination a mission board that [...]
Continue Reading2011 could be defining moment for 'gay marriage'
BALTIMORE, Md.?In what is shaping up as a pivotal moment for the future of "gay marriage" in America, a dozen or so state legislatures are expected to debate the issue this year, with two or three potentially legalizing it and at least seven states moving in the opposite direction by [...]
Continue ReadingNAMB trustees approve sweeping changes
ALPHARETTA, Ga.?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.The package [...]
Continue ReadingANNIE ARMSTRONG EASTER OFFERING: Couple labors in vast Calif. mission field
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. Because of Tina McMillan (Burkhart) and her attentive pupil, Howard?both students at the University of Southern [...]
Continue ReadingIMB presidential candidate offers experience as missionary, pastor, denominational leader
WILLIAMSBURG, Va.?Tom Elliff of Oklahoma City is the unanimous nominee for the president of Southern Baptists' International Mission Board, according to information released Feb. 17 by search committee chairman Jimmy Pritchard, pastor of First Baptist Church of Forney, Texas. The full board of trustees will consider the recommendation when [...]
Continue ReadingTestimonies show women gifted, used in local church
"I just always thought God wanted to use me," Connie Doughty explained in reflecting on 56 years of ministry. As members of Calvary Baptist Church in Longview gathered early this year to pay tribute to the 74-year-old woman, their testimonies described her eagerness to encourage and nurture others in [...]
Continue ReadingKing James Version at 400
CARTHAGE?Among all the English translations of the Bible, the King James Version has stood the test of time and influenced Western literature, culture and Christianity like no other.To mark the 400th birthday of King James' 1611 translation of the Bible, the Greater East Texas Baptist Association is sponsoring a week-long [...]
Continue ReadingSBTC passes 2,300 affiliated churches
The affiliation of three churches during the last week of January increased to more than 2,300 the number of churches joined with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.Primera Iglesia Bautista of Alvin, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Dallas and Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin pushed the convention beyond [...]
Continue ReadingSonogram bill among emergency items for 82nd Texas Legislature
AUSTIN?Gov. Perry added to a list of emergency items in the state House a bill requiring women in Texas to undergo a sonogram prior to having an abortion, placing it on a fast-track for early consideration in the 82nd Texas Legislature.Perry announced his intention to hasten the bill's consideration [...]
Continue ReadingInterim IMB president answers strategy questions
Editor's note: The Jan. 31 edition of the Southern Baptist TEXAN featured a book review of "Reaching and Teaching: A Call to Great Commission Obedience," by Southern Seminary missions professor David Sills. The book mentioned the International Mission Board at points, but without directly addressing IMB strategy. So the [...]
Continue ReadingNo shortcuts to biblical faith and practice
All confessions of faith will leave some arguments unsettled. Our Baptist Faith and Message certainly does and you see it reflected in this issue's discussion of women in local church ministry. You'll notice that the participants all sought to base their beliefs and practice on what the Bible says, even [...]
Continue ReadingDespite perceptions, younger women seek seasoned mentors
PORTER?"Older women either have retired from ministry with women, or they think the younger women do not want to hear from them. But the younger women are saying just the opposite. They strongly desire for older women to just be friends with them and share experiences they have had that [...]
Continue ReadingChallenges to applying biblical parameters for the genders play out in local church
While the Baptist Faith and Message expressed the convention's opposition to females serving as pastor, it did little to delineate parameters for other leadership roles within the general ministries of the church.Susie Hawkins, women's author and speaker, was one of two women to serve on the committee to revise [...]
Continue ReadingTheological educators, books offer help for genders ministering together in local church
Two resources produced by theological educators present a framework for successfully navigating the potential minefield of biblically ordered gender roles in the local church. Southern Baptist seminary professors Jaye Martin and Terri Stovall teamed up to write "Women Leading Women: The Biblical Model for the Church," a book purposed to [...]
Continue ReadingDorothy Patterson: Theologian, practitioner, wife, mother
FORT WORTH?Dorothy Patterson couldn't appear more at home than when she stands before women teaching truths of Scripture. Whether in a classroom at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary preparing women for ministry, traveling to overseas mission fields to encourage former students or speaking to a ladies session of the upcoming Empower [...]
Continue Reading'Between God & Me' guides girls through Proverbs
Every day young women are faced with making choices. Some choices may be simple and seem inconsequential, but now more than ever, young women face choices that will significantly affect their futures. How will they know the right choice? What will determine their priorities as adults? What will influence their [...]
Continue ReadingSUPER BOWL: Aaron Rodgers, other Packers, looking to 'follow Jesus' example'
ARLINGTON?NFL experts and newspaper headline writers have been quick to label Green Bay starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers the "Leader of the Pack."Something about 4,712 yards passing and 34 touchdowns, and leading the Packers to the verge of their first Super Bowl title in more than a decade will do that for you.But Rodgers made it [...]
Continue ReadingSUPER BOWL: Football fun, but isn't 'who we are,' Steelers coach Tomlin says
ARLINGTON?The Christian conversion of Pittsburgh Steelers' third-year offensive lineman Tony Hills saw the team's practice facility used for something unusual this season -- a baptism. And that on a team that needed new life to begin this storied season."I appreciated everybody who came in because it was a big moment for me after I was [...]
Continue Reading
