As ninety-year-old Stella Tong sat on the front pew, she could hardly believe her eyes. She was born in a China that did not value education for children, much less girls – but a missionary from Georgia changed all that.
When Clarence Steiner was appointed as the first missionary in Henry Association in 1994, he decided to do something different with the annual meeting.
Shorter College’s new trustees met for the first time on Oct. 21 and elected retired Marietta pastor Nelson Price as chairman. The board affirmed the interim presidency of Harold E. Newman and pledged their continued support for him as they laid groundwork for the new administration.
Preparing early for disaster is key 1,300 new Georgia Disaster relief volunteers trained at Oct. 8 session By Scott Barkley, Staff Writer Published October 27, 2005
When the frequency, strength and expanding scope of natural disasters seem to more and more resemble the seven bowls of wrath in Revelation, the need for help is magnified.
In keeping with its changing academic status, Truett-McConnell is leaving man’s best friend behind for a mascot many are finding easy to bear.
Lottie’s legacy China’s newest church opens to crowds: standing-room only By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor Published October 27, 2005
China’s newest church opened its doors for worship on May 29 and more than 5,000 members and visitors flooded the sanctuary to hear the Gospel presentation.
Terry and Pat Powell, members of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, were enjoying great success in the business world as executives for Fortune 500 companies. Terry was the security director for Lord and Taylor while Pat was operations director for Godiva Chocolates. However, in obedience to God’s call both resigned their positions and launched out into a ministry to children.
At the beginning of the week, 12-year-old Kelsey Jackson was shy, staying close behind her mom, Leslie, as they visited schools and handed out tracts in the busy Ambato, Ecuador, market.
An all-time record was reached earlier this month with more than 7.3 million meals prepared to date for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita under the Southern Baptists’ mammoth disaster relief effort across the Gulf Coast.
Representatives from two Baptist-affiliated colleges say their schools will comply with the NCAA’s decision to ban the use of American Indian mascots and logos by sports teams, although one of the schools is appealing.
For the second time in as many years, Ted Stone will offer a motion at the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s annual meeting to abolish the convention’s multiple-giving plan and return to the historic, single option, Cooperative Program giving plan.
The International Mission Board is responding to three natural disasters – a hurricane, volcanic eruption and earthquake – that delivered blows within a matter of days to the people of Guatemala, El Salvador and surrounding areas in Central America.
For the second time in as many years, the Baptist General Convention of Texas has denied exhibit space at its annual convention to Southwestern Seminary.
A Catholic priest fighting poverty in India is the 2005 recipient of the $1 million Opus prize, awarded by a Minneapolis-based foundation that honors humanitarianism.
Out of concern it might offend Muslims in the wake of July’s suicide bombings, a London art museum has removed a sculpture made by one of Britain’s leading conceptual artists.
Contrary to its stereotypical labels like “Godless Hollywood” and “Lost Angeles,” Los Angeles is the metropolitan area with the greatest number of evangelical adults. Its one million faithful Christians are more than those in the New York, Chicago and Boston metropolitan areas combined, according to a study by The Barna Group.
The Baby Comfort station at the Georgia National Fair is finally on the map.
Bible Study
Respond with Faith By Jim Perdue, Pastor, North Cross Baptist Church, Cumming Published October 27, 2005
I learned very early in my childhood that life is full of disappointment. I was never allowed to get all the toys I wanted when my mom took me to the mall. I didn’t win the big football game when the team was counting on me.
It never fails. Anytime a tragedy of immense proportions strikes a home, a family or a nation, someone always asks, “How could God let this happen?” As if, in some way or another, God caused the tragedy or He was unable or unwilling to prevent it. The notion that bad things happen to bad people has a basis in Scripture, but many people mistakenly explain all bad things that happen to people as judgment from God. Others go to the opposite extreme and explain all tragic events as the results of human choices or simply bad luck.
I grew up in a small town in the foothills of North Carolina. Our church owned a house at Ridgecrest, the home of one our Southern Baptist retreat centers. I loved going to Ridgecrest and went as often as possible during my teenage years. I heard some of the giants of our Southern Baptist Convention preach the Gospel and their messages made an indelible impact upon my life.
A high school football coach in New Jersey had two words for school officials who told him he had to stop leading his team in a pre-game prayer.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published October 27, 2005
In 1925, God led Southern Baptists to establish the Cooperative Program as the means through which they would support mission ministry around the globe. Little could they have known how God would bless this glorious means of supporting Kingdom ministry.
This is in response to the letter in the Aug. 18 issue regarding “praise songs” that were referenced in the “Passing the Baton” (June 23) article. I do not claim to be a Bible scholar, but I can say with a reasonable amount of certainty that my Bible does not have a verse where God told us we have to sing the hymns out of hymnals that were not even in existence at that time. And surely the people who sang psalms and hymns and spiritual songs in David’s time did not use our hymnals either.
Minister to needs By Philip Nation, pastor, Lake Ridge Church, Cumming Published October 27, 2005
Two ideas that have come to the surface in the SBC are the missional church model and younger leaders. It should surprise no one that they have arisen in the same timeframe. The emphasis given in Joe Westbury’s recent article in the Index (“Stained Glass and Starbucks”, Sept 29) that a “both/and approach” is needed is correct.
I was glad to see the article “Stained Glass and Starbucks” in a recent edition of The Christian Index, but I’m afraid the message presented may be missing the “fruit” for the trees.
Shed old patterns By Jim and Betty Smith, Oceanside, Calif., Emeritus IMB representative in Israel, 1955-89 Published October 27, 2005
We have read the “Stained Glass and Starbucks” articles in the Sept. 29 issue several times because it is so pertinent to the present situation our local church, Buena Vista Baptist Church in Vista, Calif.
Beyond methodology By Scott Kindig, Youth Ministry Consultant, Georgia Baptist Convention Published October 27, 2005
Thanks for your exceptional article, “Stained Glass & Starbucks.” It was particularly refreshing for me because of my heritage in youth ministry.
Thank you for your recent article titled “Stained Glass & Starbucks.” It is no doubt a subject that should be on the front page of every Southern Baptist publication.
Indeed, “Baptist” is a wonderful name! (Index editorial, Oct. 13). Its heritage is a proud and bold one. Why, then, are some Baptist churches removing the word “Baptist” from their signs?