Issue Date: 2010-03-11
Volume: 189
Number: 5

News

Task Force members cast their vision for re-energized SBC
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published March 11, 2010

The Southern Baptist Convention will not lose any agencies in a new era envisioned by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, but tweaking of the denomination will result in substantial changes nonetheless.

Colorado Springs not a Christian 'mecca' after all
By Mickey Noah
Published March 11, 2010

What could be better than serving as a North American Mission Board missionary in picturesque Colorado Springs?

Realize the importance
By Paul Baxter
Published March 11, 2010

I recently began a sermon series on "How To Survive If Not Thrive In Bad Times."

Muslim women launch long-ditch effort to remove prayer partitions
By Omar Sacirbey, c. 2010 Religion News Service
Published March 11, 2010

The walls that segregate Muslim men from women inside many American mosques took a long time to go up, and it could be a long time before they come down.

'Thank you' goes long way in missions support
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published March 11, 2010

J. Robert White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, has long been recognized as an unashamedly strong supporter of the Cooperative Program.

Retirement contributions may rebound, says Hawkins
By Curtis D. Sharp
Published March 11, 2010

With recent signs of economic recovery, many employers plan to resume matching retirement contributions in 2010. A recent survey by a human resources consulting firm found that 80 percent of for-profit employers intend to restore their matches to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

40,000 Haitians profess faith in Christ
By Barbara Denman
Published March 11, 2010

A reported 40,127 Haitians have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ since a major earthquake hit the impoverished nation in January, according to pastors and directors of missions within the Confraternite Missionaire Baptiste d'Haiti (CMBH).

'A New Hope' screened at Angola
By Diana Chandler
Published March 11, 2010

"Hate and indifference" are the only emotions Donald Biermann says he once knew.

Waters walking what evangelism conference is talking
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 11, 2010

This year Georgia Baptist Convention Evangelism Ministries scheduled four regional evangelism conferences. Steve Parr, vice president for Sunday School and Evangelism, initiated the multi-site conferences as an every-other-year experiment in 2008 and the first two have proven to be very effective.

NAMB chairman responds to GCR proposals
By Mike Ebert
Published March 11, 2010

The chairman of the North American Mission Board trustees has expressed excitement and encouragement about the progress report issued by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.

A bucketful of response
By Scott Barkley, Production Editor
Published March 11, 2010

When the first videos and reports and mega-celebrity pleas for money to Haiti came out following that country's Jan. 12 earthquake, Georgia Baptists wanted to respond like they normally do.

Israeli decison add West Bank shrines to protected sites list draws praise
Published March 11, 2010

A decision to include two West Bank shrines in a list of Jewish heritage sites slated for preservation has been praised by religious and right-wing Jews and scorned by Palestinians and their supporters.

Big changes in store for NAMB, state conventions under GCR proposal
Published March 11, 2010

Members of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force told reporters after their presentation that their proposed dissolving of cooperative agreements between the North American Mission Board and state conventions will make the respective sides stronger and more equipped to reach the nation with the Gospel.

The six components of the Task Force's report
Published March 11, 2010

Witnessing effort in 2010 Olympics 'More Than Gold'
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 11, 2010

Georgia Baptists were on the ground in Whistler, British Columbia bearing a powerful witness for Christ at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Students weigh God's call
By Mickey Noah
Published March 11, 2010

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.

Baptist News Summary

GuideStone releases annual tax guide
Published March 11, 2010

The annual Ministers Tax Guide for 2009 Returns has been released by GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Names in the News
Published March 11, 2010

Southern Baptists release $50,000 for Chile relief
Published March 11, 2010

Southern Baptists have released $50,000 for immediate relief needs in Chile, where the death toll has climbed past 700 in an earthquake disaster described by the country's president as "without parallel in Chile's history."

Prayer asked for IMB prez search
Published March 11, 2010

The International Mission Board's presidential search committee continues to narrow down its field of candidates to select the organization's 11th president.

Baptist volunteers still in Haiti jail
Published March 11, 2010

Two weeks after their eight team members were released and allowed to return to the United States, two female Baptist volunteers remained in a Haiti jail March 5, optimistic they'll be freed soon but still awaiting the final word from the judge overseeing the case.

SBC registration opens for Orlando
Published March 11, 2010

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.

Religious Newsbriefs

Authorities in India pull books with image of smoking, drinking Jesus
Published March 11, 2010

Authorities in India's majority-Christian Meghalaya state have confiscated all copies of a text book that contains a picture of Jesus holding a can of beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Anger after torched church denied loan
Published March 11, 2010

The pastor of a black church that was torched just hours after President Obama's election says the bank that initially made a $1.7 million building loan has declined to issue another one.

Japanese top court rules against shrine placement on public land
Published March 11, 2010

A Christian man has won a lawsuit in Japan's highest court against a local mayor who had allowed the free use of local government land for a Shinto shrine.

People and Places

Obituaries
Published March 11, 2010

Honors
Published March 11, 2010

Ordinations
Published March 11, 2010

Ministerial Moves
Published March 11, 2010

Cooperative Program Stories

Great Commission Resurgence demands a Cooperative Program Resurgence
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 11, 2010

Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist, philosopher and author who is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientist and intellectuals of all time, addressed the very essence of life and cooperation.

Bible Study

When Worship Dishonors God
By Bill Barber, senior pastor, First Baptist Thomaston
Published March 11, 2010

I Corinthians 11:17-34
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Mar 28

When Members Insist on Their Way
By Bill Barber, senior pastor, First Baptist Thomaston
Published March 11, 2010

I Corinthians 8:1-4, 7-13; 10:31-33
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Mar 21

Columns

While some might think ADHD is overdiagnosed, it is real
By James Dobson
Published March 11, 2010

The pain of change
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 11, 2010

I typically do not like change.

Are black children an endangered species?
By Al Mohler
Published March 11, 2010

Catherine Davis is a woman with a message, and that message is getting harder to ignore. "Black children are an endangered species."

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC
Published March 11, 2010

I want to express appreciation to Georgia Baptists who have responded quickly to the needs in Haiti.