sbc_mohler_62303

Posted 6/18/03

Mohler: Scripture mandates evangelism 'to the Jew first'

PHOENIX–Jewish evangelism, homosexuality and the authority of Scripture are three “trip wires” confronting the evangelical Christian church, Al Mohler told a gathering of Messianic Jews June 16.

Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and a frequent apologist for the Southern Baptist Convention on national TV, spoke to the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship. The fellowship held its gathering prior to the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix.

Jewish evangelism relates to homosexuality, Mohler declared, because both issues are based on the authority of the Bible.

06/18/2003 - By John Rutledge

sbc_pastorsconf_62303

Posted 6/18/03

Family first priority at
SBC Pastors' Conference

By Stella Prather, Jennifer Rash & Stacy Hamby

PHOENIX–“Kingdom families” captured the spotlight of the 2003 Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference, even as participants heard a new version of the Monday Night Football song from evangelist Hank Williams.

Headlining the two-day meeting was the first-ever Southern Baptist Convention Kingdom Family Rally held during the closing session June 16. The Pastors' Conference met June 15-16 in Phoenix, immediately prior to the SBC annual meeting.

Leading up to the Monday evening rally, Pastors' Conference speakers focused their sermons around the family theme. Music was provided by the Annie Moses Band, Wintley Phipps and the Rick Webb Trio. Choirs from First Baptist Church of Dallas also performed.

06/18/2003 - By John Rutledge

sbc_vines_62303

Posted 6/18/03

Vines tells Pastors' Conference
'All religions not the same'

PHOENIX–Just in case America didn't hear him the first time, Jerry Vines made a point of speaking clearly at this year's Southern Baptist Pastor's Conference: “All religions are not the same. All religions are not equally true.”

Vines, pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla., and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, drew the ire of Muslims and others when at last year's Pastors' Conference he called the founder of Islam a “demon-possessed pedophile” as he marched toward declaring that Christianity is superior to Islam.

That led to a later segment aired on the “NBC Nightly News” in which anchor Tom Brokaw described Vines as “preaching hate.”

06/18/2003 - By John Rutledge

sbc_rally_62303

Posted 6/18/03

Kingdom Family Rally promotes
'Seven Pillars' to strengthen families

By Tony Cartledge

PHOENIX–After three years of planning, the Southern Baptist Convention unveiled seven “pillars” leaders believe will strengthen American families.

06/18/2003 - By John Rutledge

sbc_wmu_62303

Posted 6/18/03

WMU focuses on God's call,
inspirational testimonies

By Charlie Warren, John Loudat & Bill Webb

Arkansas Baptist, Baptist New Mexican and Word & Way

PHOENIX–“Survivor” could have been the theme of this year's annual meeting of Woman's Missionary Union, but viewers of the popular TV show would have found a message of faith rather than fear on this stage.

06/18/2003 - By John Rutledge

history_hymns_62303

Posted: 6/13/03

Coleman, Penn played key role
in church music, history society told

By Ken Camp

Texas Baptist Communications

BELTON–Texas Baptists probably wouldn’t be singing the last verse of "Amazing Grace" or singing to the accompaniment of an organ at all if not for Robert H. Coleman and William E. Penn.

06/13/2003 - By John Rutledge

nc_giving_62303

Posted: 6/13/03

NC giving plan OK,
study committee reports

By Tony Cartledge

North Carolina Biblical Recorder

CARY, N.C. (ABP)–The giving plan that allows North Carolina Baptists to send mission funds to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship instead of the Southern Baptist Convention does not violate the state convention's constitution, according to a study committee.

06/13/2003 - By John Rutledge

presbyterians_62303

Posted: 6/13/03

Presbyterians avoid
fight over homosexuality

By Kevin Eckstrom

Religion News Service

DENVER (RNS)–The Presbyterian Church (USA) stepped back from another divisive fight over homosexuality May 30, rejecting a third church-wide vote on whether to allow non-celibate gays and lesbians to serve as pastors and elders.

06/13/2003 - By John Rutledge

sars_62303

Posted: 6/13/03

SARS outbreak knocks out
summer missions plans

By Kambry Bickings

Staff Writer

The SARS outbreak in Southeast Asia knocked out plans for mission work by several Texas mission groups this summer.

06/13/2003 - By John Rutledge

water_project_62303

Posted: 6/13/03

Cooperation brings water
flowing to Macedonian village

DALLAS–A small village in northeastern Macedonia has water flowing again thanks to a collaborative effort between the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Partnership for the Environment.

Earlier this year, CBF missions workers Darrell and Kathy Smith worked with Terri Morgan of the Texas-based Partnership for the Environment to complete a project that restored the supply of fresh water to the village of Turija, 20 miles west of the Bulgarian border. More than 30 years ago, artesian springs supplied fresh water to the community, but when the lines deteriorated and the distribution equipment failed, the village was left without drinking water.

“The need for potable water in communities across Eastern Europe is severe,” said Morgan, president of the environmental ministry and a former staff member with the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission. Morgan left the CLC to form the independent environmental ministry.

06/13/2003 - By John Rutledge

storylist_60903

Story list for 6/09/03GO TO SECTIONS: • Texas      • Baptists      • Religion      • Departments      • Opinion      • Bible Study • Pastors say long tenures benefit ministries • Survey says there's…

06/13/2003 - By John Rutledge

letters_60903

Posted: 6/06/03

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM:
God's chosen people

I have read with interest your editorial regarding the Middle East peace process and your remarks about Christians getting in the way of the peace process (June 2).

As a completed Jew, I take great exception as to your characterization that perhaps the Jews are not God's chosen people. As one who believes the Bible is inerrant, the fact that God's word states the Jews are his chosen people is enough to satisfy me.

The bloodshed is not caused by the Jews, rather the Arabs. Their whole bent has and always will be to see to the final and ultimate destruction of Israel and the Jews. We have heard this from many Arab leaders, including Yasser Arafat. You are naive if you believe that any so-called peace will eliminate or even reduce the bloodshed we are seeing. Incidentally, can you name a single instance whereby we have seen “terrorist” attacks on the Arabs by the Jews?

06/12/2003 - By John Rutledge