Issue Date: 2012-05-17
Volume: 191
Number: 10

News

Exit interview with SBC President Bryant Wright
Published May 17, 2012

Christian Index editor Gerald Harris interviewed Georgia pastor Bryant Wright of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and discovered that during his two years as SBC president Wright traveled more than 100,000 miles to 16 states, 10 countries and three continents. In addition to his regular preaching ministry at his Marietta church Wright spoke almost 100 times since his election in Orlando in June of 2010.

Jesus to the Neighborhood and the Nations
Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting
Published May 17, 2012

Hiawassee Park provides tranquil lifestyle
Georgia Baptists' newest retirement community
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published May 17, 2012

Occupancy of Georgia Baptists' newest retirement community is well underway with 22 units already constructed and the final dozen on schedule for a late 2012 completion.

WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting
Published May 17, 2012

Various groups to gather at SBC
Published May 17, 2012

Several organizations affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention will hold meetings in conjunction with the event.

Obama re-election campaign embraces gay 'marriage' and mocks Romney stance
By Michael Foust
Published May 17, 2012

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.

New 'descriptor' and historic election ahead for SBC meeting
By Diana Chandler
Published May 17, 2012

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.

2012 SBC Annual Meeting - Summary
Published May 17, 2012

Seminary gatherings slated for June 20
Published May 17, 2012

For New Orleans Seminary, it will be a campus picnic. For the other five seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention, it will be a convention center setting.

Georgians join nominees to serve in SBC leadership
Published May 17, 2012

Several Baptists from Georgia are among those nominated by the 2012 SBC Committee on Nominations and President Bryant Wright to serve on various boards within the Southern Baptist Convention at the upcoming SBC meeting June 19-20 in New Orleans. Nominees will serve if elected by the messengers.

Pastors' Conference 2012
Published May 17, 2012

SBC meeting smartphone app launches
Published May 17, 2012

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.

NAMB increases funding for Appalachian Regional Ministry
By Tobin Perry
Published May 17, 2012

Matthew Hallenbeck got a phone call no pastor wants to get on a Sunday morning. The church was on fire.

Sons of Jubal take top prize at historic North Korea festival
Historic goodwill trip to North Korea, China
By Eddy G. Oliver, GBC Communication Services
Published May 17, 2012

The Sons of Jubal returned April 23 after an historic goodwill trip to North Korea that saw the group capturing the top award for best ensemble.

Being Social
Published May 17, 2012

Tradition or Pharisaism?
By John Pearrell, pastor, Gateway Community Church (SBC), Covington
Published May 17, 2012

This is in response to a letter I read denouncing Shorter College for their "weak stance" on alcohol. I would like to reference scripture verses of Matthew 15:3-9 and Colossians 2:16-23, both from the New International Version.

People and Places

Ordinations
Published May 17, 2012

Revival Reports
Published May 17, 2012

Ministerial Moves
Published May 17, 2012

Robinson honored for half-century of ministry
Published May 17, 2012

Mountain Park hosts first annual Family Fest
Published May 17, 2012

Deaths
Published May 17, 2012

WMU Spring Event at Callaway Gardens
Published May 17, 2012

Honors
Published May 17, 2012

Cooperative Program Stories

A miracle on Pimento Avenue
By Bobby Boswell, GBC assistant executive director, vice president for ministries
Published May 17, 2012

New Mercy Baptist Church is a church plant located on Pimento Avenue in Griffin. This new church began as the vision of nearby New Salem Baptist Church.

Bible Study

A Legacy of Love
By Kenneth Cloud, director, Bowen Baptist Association
Published May 17, 2012

Acts 17:1-4; II Cor. 5:6-21; I Thess. 1:1-10
Bible Studies for Life, May 27

Going Through the Motions
By Kenneth Cloud, director, Bowen Baptist Association
Published May 17, 2012

Malachi 1:1-14
Bible Studies for Life, June 3

Columns

"Since you asked …"
By Paul Baxter
Published May 17, 2012

How can a good and loving God allow people to go to hell?

Shorter: A Baptist university headed in the right direction
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 17, 2012

Georgia Baptists should be deliriously delighted and eternally grateful for what is happening at our Georgia Baptist institutions of higher education.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director GBC
Published May 17, 2012

If you have been involved in Georgia Baptist life over the past 20 years, you are aware that some of the great challenges we have faced have been with our colleges. For years I have prayed that God would allow Georgia Baptists to have strong Christian schools with a profound commitment to excellence in academic education in a thoroughly Christian environment.

Georgia Voices

BIG Church
By Steve Jones
Published May 17, 2012

Forty some odd years ago folks my age were in the youth group at our church. We kind of did our own thing. We would have our own mid-week service where we wore blue jeans and shorts, we sat on the floor, we had a garage band playing some variation of the latest CCM hits, we drank Cokes during the service, the speaker was young and cool and wore young, cool clothes and talked about how cool Jesus was and that He is our bud and likes to hang with us.