• nigerian_scams_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Nigerian e-mail scams taking on language of faith

  By Mark Wingfield

  Managing Editor

  Mrs. Sikiratu Seki Adams of Nigeria doesn't really want to donate $6 million to your church.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• relton_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Texas evangelist worked behind
  the scenes to comfort Smart family

  A Texas evangelist played a behind-the-scenes role in encouraging the family of Elizabeth Smart through prayer and fasting.

  Michael Relton, an evangelist and former pastor, currently lives in Dallas, where he is a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church. He is the author of “Dear God … Prayer Book,” a collection of prayers for specific life problems.

  Smart is the Salt Lake City girl who was abducted from her bedroom last June, sparking nationwide interest in the search for her.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• primetime_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Prime time sexual content declines

  WASHINGTON (RNS)–Almost every broadcast network saw a marked decrease in sexual content during the evening “family hour” between 1998 and 2002, the Parents Television Council reports.

  With the exception of the WB, every broadcast network decreased its sexual content from 8 to 9 p.m. in recent years. All the networks except the WB and UPN also showed a reduction in such content during the hour from 9 to 10 p.m.

  “For years, conventional wisdom in Hollywood had it that 'sex sells,' and therefore the more of it, the better,” said Brent Bozell, president of the Los Angeles-based council.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• prayer_case_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  VMI's prayers ruled unconstitutional

  RICHMOND, Va. (RNS)–An appellate court has ruled that the Virginia Military Institute's tradition of prayer before evening meals is unconstitutional.

  “In establishing its supper prayer, VMI has done precisely what the First Amendment forbids,” a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled April 28.

  The decision upheld a lower court ruling.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• police_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Fort Worth program places
  ministers alongside police officers

  By John Hall

  Texas Baptist Communications

  FORT WORTH–Some Baptists are known for stands against dancing and drinking and smoking, but Randy Austin wants to let Fort Worth know Baptists also will take a stand against crime.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• physicians_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Project frees physicians from debt for missions

  By Deann Alford

  Religion News Service

  TEMPLE (RNS)–Africa needs doctors, and in 1997 Tracy and Patty Goen were Christian physicians ready to respond to the need as medical missionaries. But like most medical school graduates, the couple was saddled with student debt. Together they owed $100,000.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• 

  onthemove_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  On the Move

  Walter Allen to Simpsonville Church in Pittsburg as pastor.

  Jason Edwards to First Church in Waco as youth minister.

  Greg Gasaway to Central Church in Pampa as minister of youth/music from Second Church in Levelland, where he was minister of youth/education.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• 

  nobles_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  AMY NOBLES:
  Woman of worship

  By Leann Callaway

  Special to the Standard

  At an age when most children make music by banging on pots and pans, Amy Nobles began setting herself apart by tackling the piano.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• nix_book_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Layman's whodunit book takes on
  the case of Jesus' empty tomb

  By George Henson

  Staff Writer

  MIDLOTHIAN–It's a classic whodunit. Only the mystery isn't in the murder–scores of people witnessed that–but in who took the body.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• workplace_bill_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Broad coalition supporting workplace freedom bill

  By Kevin Eckstrom

  Religion News Service

  WASHINGTON–An unusually broad coalition of religious groups is pushing a bill that would protect religious expression in the workplace. But civil liberties groups are concerned the bill could be used to advance on-the-job proselytizing.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• islam_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Evangelical group urges
  temperance in talk about Islam

  WASHINGTON (RNS)–While affirming their right to proselytize, leaders of the evangelical Christian community issued guidelines last month to foster better relations between Christians and Muslims and criticized some prominent evangelicals' strongly negative generalizations about Islam.

  The guidelines were issued at a half-day forum sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and the Institute on Religion and Democracy. The forum was attended by 50 representatives of mission, advocacy and educational evangelical organizations.

  It is dangerous to oversimplify Islam by labeling it, said Clive Calver, president of World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge

• heritage_women_60203

  Posted: 5/30/03

  Heritage: Baptist women can thank
  pioneer pair for opening doors

  By Ken Camp

  Texas Baptist Communications

  BELTON–A pair of Texas Baptist pioneers opened doors for women in missions and education, according to panelists at a recent meeting of the Baptist History & Heritage Society.

  05/31/2003 - By John Rutledge