Issue Date: 2009-05-21
Volume: 188
Number: 11

News

Shorter students help continued Katrina cleanup
By Aimee Madden
Published May 21, 2009

It was only one out of the thousands of homes in New Orleans that Hurricane Katrina brought down, and just one of many that love has been able to build back up.

'Servant leadership' theme of DOM meeting
Published May 21, 2009

The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions will discuss servant leadership during their June 21-22 meeting in Louisville, Ky. Speakers will include Ken Hemphill, Thom Rainer, and O.S. Hawkins.

Judge: School can't ban 'God' from posters
By Michael Foust
Published May 21, 2009

In a victory for five Christian parents, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction May 1 preventing a Tennessee school from censoring posters advertising the National Day of Prayer and See You at the Pole events.

Hispanic Baptists prepare for Louisville
Published May 21, 2009

"Rekindling the Fire of God" is the theme for the Fellowship of Hispanic Churches of the SBC prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

Ezell to be Pastors' Conference nominee
Published May 21, 2009

Kevin Ezell, senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference during its June 21-22 meeting in Louisville, Ky., a former conference president, Hayes Wicker, announced May 14.

Keeping memories alive
Honor history while engaging today’s culture
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published May 21, 2009

Growing up in Virginia, Charles Jones had no choice but to soak up history.

NAMB appoints new missionaries in Georgia
Published May 21, 2009

The North American Mission Board has appointed two new missionaries in Georgia.

NAAF to meet at local church
Published May 21, 2009

In a break from earlier years, the National African American Fellowship's annual meeting will take place at a local church rather than the convention center where the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting will be held.

Georgia Baptists nominated for SBC leadership roles
Published May 21, 2009

Several leaders and members of Georgia Baptist churches are nominees to serve on the boards of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, International Mission Board, LifeWay Christian Resources, GuideStone Financial Resources, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Seminary, and New Orleans Seminary by the 2009 SBC Committee on Nominations.

Are you ready for the summer?
Georgia Baptist camps beckon students of all ages
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published May 21, 2009

Ask Director Bill Wheeler when he and his staff began preparing for the slew of campers descending on Georgia Baptist Convention Conference Center-Toccoa this summer, and his answer is a simple one.

Hunt says GCR was needed 'shock' to 'adrift' SBC
SBC president confirms intention to seek re-election
By James A. Smith Sr., Executive Editor, Florida Baptist Witness
Published May 21, 2009

The Southern Baptist Convention is a ship "adrift" and so low in the water that it "probably" needs to rid itself of some unnecessary "cargo" to "float and be healthy and strong again," SBC president Johnny Hunt said in a May 13 interview with the Florida Baptist Witness.

Sid Smith to be honored by Network
Published May 21, 2009

The Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network will honor the late Sid Smith during its 13th annual meeting Sunday, June 21, at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.

Several named to SBC committees
Published May 21, 2009

SBC annual meeting details
Published May 21, 2009

Remember Nargis? Myanmar does, even if Americans don't
By Tracy Simmons, c. 2009 Religion News Service
Published May 21, 2009

Nargis is a word the Burmese will never forget. Many Americans, however, would probably have to Google it.

Casting Crowns performs once again in North Korea
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 21, 2009

Casting Crowns, the Atlanta-based Grammy and Dove award winning band, apparently made an excellent impression on North Korea's leadership when they performed for the country's Annual April Spring Friendship Arts Festival in Pyongyang two years ago.

Trump lets Miss California keep crown, says media 'should be ashamed'
By Michael Foust
Published May 21, 2009

Capping a three-week media and blogosphere firestorm, Donald Trump let Carrie Prejean maintain her role as Miss California USA, saying May 11 the 21-year-old has taken "a tremendous amount of abuse" following her publicly stated opposition to "gay marriage."

Pastors' wives focus: 'Women of Truth'
Published May 21, 2009

"Women of Truth" will be the theme of the annual Pastors' Wives Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention's Pastors' Conference, with keynote speakers Elizabeth Luter and Mary Kassian.

Seminaries set aside time for lunch at SBC
Published May 21, 2009

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 24, in conjunction with the SBC's annual meeting at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

Corrections
Published May 21, 2009

White County latest to display 10 Commandments
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published May 21, 2009

It seemed fitting that honoring the National Day of Prayer became the setting for celebrating the displaying of several historical documents - most notably the Ten Commandments - at the White County courthouse May 7.

Bridges, Mitchell named to Committee on Committees
Published May 21, 2009

Georgia Baptist pastors Charlie Bridges of Grove Level Baptist Church in Dalton and Dennis Mitchell of Greenforest Baptist Community Church in Decatur have been tapped by SBC president Johnny Hunt to serve on the Committee on Committees.

IMB lifts travel restrictions to Mexico
Published May 21, 2009

The International Mission Board has lifted restrictions on non-emergency travel to and from Mexico by its personnel, the agency said in a statement May 7.

Young evangelists needed, says COSBE
Published May 21, 2009

The Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists will hold its annual retreat June 19-21 with an eye toward involving more young evangelists in not only the organization but in SBC life.

Retired ministers gather for annual fellowship
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published May 21, 2009

Retired Georgia Baptist ministers and their spouses gathered at the Missions and Ministry Center on May 7 for their annual luncheon and fellowship.

Georgia Newsbriefs

Hampton to lead Merritt, Summerhill
Published May 21, 2009

Curt Hampton has been named to lead Merritt and Summerhill associations as director of missions, effective June. 1.

Baptist News Summary

Southern Baptists' top ethicist calls waterboarding 'torture'
Published May 21, 2009

Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land, a leading Christian conservative who helped advance the Bush administration's agenda on a range of social issues, said May 4 that the formerly sanctioned practice of waterboarding of suspected terrorists is torture and "violates everything we stand for."

Religious Newsbriefs

Berlin defeats mandating religion in school
Published May 21, 2009

Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit has accused Germany's highest Protestant cleric of polarizing voters during a city referendum April 26 that would have reintroduced religious instruction in public schools.

Robertson to step down at Regent University
Published May 21, 2009

Pat Robertson will retire as president of Regent University, the Virginia school he founded, next year, the university announced April 28.

Indian Muslim leaders angry over 'Talibanization' remarks in beard ruling
Published May 21, 2009

Senior Muslim clerics in India say they may appeal a Supreme Court decision that ruled against a Muslim teenager who wanted to grow a beard even though his Catholic school requires students to be clean-shaven.

State Department singles out eight nations for religious freedom violations
Published May 21, 2009

Just before the end of the Bush administration last January, the U.S. State Department redesignated eight nations as "countries of particular concern" because of their religious freedom violations.

People and Places

Homecomings
Published May 21, 2009

Honors
Published May 21, 2009

Ordinations
Published May 21, 2009

Ministerial Moves
Published May 21, 2009

Revival Reports
Published May 21, 2009

Cooperative Program Stories

The only church they know
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published May 21, 2009

400 pancakes. 22 pounds of sausage. 20 dozen eggs. 10 pounds of cheese grits. 18 gallons of orange juice. That's what it takes to feed breakfast to more than 250 students at Telfair County Middle School. Twice a month members of a church in Telfair Association take their turn at feeding an early morning meal to about 80 percent of the students at the school.

Bible Study

Philip: Telling Others About Jesus
By Jay Moore, pastor, Jefferson Street Baptist Church, Dublin
Published May 21, 2009

Acts 6:2-3, 5a; 8:4-8, 26-31, 34-35; 21:8-9
Related Sunday School, Lesson Bible Studies for Life, May 31

Purposefully Connected
By Terry Quick, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Sandy Springs
Published May 21, 2009

1 John 1:1 - 2:2
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, June 7

Columns

Marks of a decaying society
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 21, 2009

Southern Baptists may have defeated theological liberalism in the denomination during the Conservative Resurgence, but the liberal, secular influence in the nation seems to be advancing unabated.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC
Published May 21, 2009

We are right in the midst of some of my favorite family times of the year.

Strong-willed kids must be given caring, firm discipline
By James Dobson
Published May 21, 2009