Baptist Briefs_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Baptist Briefs

Georgia convention moving. The Georgia Baptist Convention has sold its building and property in northeast Atlanta to Mercer University for $12 million. The five-story building sits on a 25-acre site adjoining the Atlanta campus of Mercer, which has its main campus in Macon. The 200,000-square-foot building is about 40 years old. The convention plans to move to a new facility in suburban Gwinnett County.

New Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Dorothy Patterson signs the faculty roster in an Aug. 26 chapel service, signifying her agreement with the 2000 Baptist & Faith Message. Looking on are her husband, President Paige Patterson, left, and Provost Craig Blaising.( Richard McCormack/SWBTS Photo)

Dixons return to Spain. David and Susie Dixon, former International Mission Board missionaries to Spain, are returning to Spain in a new role. The Dixons, who have Texas roots, were among 14 missionaries fired by the IMB for refusing to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. In an Aug. 21 letter to friends and supporters, the Dixons announced David Dixon has been called as pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Madrid. The part-time pastorate will allow Dixon to continue teaching at the Spanish Baptist Seminary, where he previously served under IMB appointment.

CBF aids burned-out Gypsies. After an accidental cooking fire led to a Banjara Gypsy community disaster in Hyderabad, India, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship mission workers James and Robbi Francovich used $2,300 in economic development funds to aid the Banjara in a unique way. They offered to pay half the cost of a new bicycle or bicycle rickshaw for anyone who could sign a contract to pay the remaining half within four months. The bicycles are a key source of the Banjara's daily income. The venture provided 26 bicycles and 30 bicycle rickshaws. Banjara pastors have worked as rickshaw drivers for several years as an outreach opportunity.

Country Crossroads goes satellite. FamilyNet Radio's syndicated weekly program "Country Crossroads" will debut on XM Satellite Radio this month. The program will air Sundays at 11:02 p.m. and 7:02 p.m. during the Bill Mack Sunday Show on Channel 171, the Open Road Channel. The XM delivery system enables listeners to tune in all over the country. XM currently has more than 692,000 subscribers and is on pace to have 1.2 million by 2004. FamilyNet is a ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board.

FamilyNet wins award. The FamilyNet Radio Christmas special, "Our Country Christmas," has won a Gabriel Award under the category of religious radio program in national release. The one-hour holiday special is available to radio stations for airing this year. Hosted by legendary country and bluegrass artist Charlie Daniels, "Our Country Christmas" features music from popular country artists such as Aaron Tippin, Martina McBride, Joe Diffie, Lonestar, Mark Chesnutt, Randy Travis, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Alan Jackson and Alison Krauss.

CBF medical rates to rise. The Church Benefits Board of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has announced a 28 percent increase in medical insurance rates due to rising health-care costs and claims experience. CBF endorses PremierHealth through CIGNA HealthCare for medical and dental care.

Liberian aid given. Baptists around the world have been responding to pleas for help from Liberian Baptists. Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, has received monetary donations from many parts of the world and is working with Baptist groups sending practical relief. These supplies will be used at the Liberian Baptist Convention compound and seminary, where hundreds of homeless people are living, and at Baptist churches in rural areas throughout Liberia. The Baptist convention has about 250 churches and 60,000 members. Donations to support Baptist relief work in Liberia may be sent to Baptist World Aid at 405 N. Washington St., Falls Church, Va. 22046.