lake_pointe_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Bible-based discipleship fuels Lake Pointe growth

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

ROCKWALL–Adult Bible Fellowship members at Lake Pointe Church are expected to reach three people for Christ a year and participate in ministry locally, nationally and internationally. With almost 3,500 participants, that's a lot of outreach.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

locksoflove_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Houston girl's donation helps other by a hair

By Reagan O'Hare

Union Baptist Association

HOUSTON–Eleven-year-old Kristen Johnson did not think twice when it came to a chance to serve another child.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

mhd_hospital_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Offering puts agent of blessing in hospital

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BEAUMONT–A hopeful “agent of blessing” walks in the shadow of death, and he comes back for more each day.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

mission_directors_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Texas directors of missions meet in first annual session

CEDAR HILL–The Texas Associational Directors of Missions Network held its first meeting Aug. 26-27 at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment, with Everett Anthony as guest speaker.

Anthony, former director of missions in Chicago and a former national leader of association work among Southern Baptists, currently serves as a consultant to associations through Urban Church Leadership.

The network is a new organization open to any active director of missions serving a Texas Baptist association.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

missions_directors_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Texas directors of missions meet in first annual session

CEDAR HILL–The Texas Associational Directors of Missions Network held its first meeting Aug. 26-27 at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment, with Everett Anthony as guest speaker.

Anthony, former director of missions in Chicago and a former national leader of association work among Southern Baptists, currently serves as a consultant to associations through Urban Church Leadership.

The network is a new organization open to any active director of missions serving a Texas Baptist association.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

mississippi_court_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Mississippi court rules fetus
is a person to be protected

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

JACKSON, Miss. (ABP)–Mississippi's highest court has ruled that a fetus is a “person” worthy of some legal protections under state law.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

music_business_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Christian contemporary music: business or ministry?

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Christian music is big business. The sales numbers show that. But Christian music insiders argue it's a ministry as well.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

music_ministers_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Ministers suspected among
best-known music pirates

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Freely downloading songs or copying albums without artists' permission is like stealing a Bible, according to Christian music insiders: Good motives don't excuse illegal acts.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

nae_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

New NAE president Ted Haggard
hopes to enhance evangelicals' image

By Steve Rabey

Religion News Service

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (RNS)–Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, says most evangelical Christians are humble, kind and godly folks, but that's not how they're always perceived.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

namb_budgetcuts_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

NAMB cuts $11 million from 2004 budget as income wanes

ALPHARETTA, GA (ABP)–The North American Mission Board plans to cut $11 million from its budget next year, which will eliminate 31 full- and part-time positions–some of which are vacant–and leave seven current employees without jobs.

The proposed $118 million budget–6 percent less than this year–awaits approval by trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention agency during their meeting Oct. 8.

The 2004 budget cuts $3 million from travel expenses, $1.6 million in communication projects, more than $4 million from support of various programs and $1.7 million from personnel expenses.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

northcarolina_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

North Carolina convention cuts
24 positions, 20 percent of staff

By Tony Cartledge

North Carolina Biblical Recorder

CARY, N.C. (ABP)–The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina cut 24 staff positions Aug. 26 in the wake of shrinking contributions from churches.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge

okhotin_convicted_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Russian court convicts
Baptist worker of smuggling

By Frank Brown

Religion News Service

MOSCOW–In a case being watched closely by evangelical Protestants worldwide, a judge convicted an American Baptist youth pastor of currency smuggling Aug. 22, in the process confiscating $48,000 in charitable donations collected from believers in the United States.

09/05/2003 - By John Rutledge