Houston church believes ministry begins at home, particularly among the church staff_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

Houston church believes ministry
begins at home, particularly among the church staff

By George Henson

Staff Writer

HOUSTON–When Lisa Archinal started seeking a ministry project for her Sunday school department, she realized she didn't have to look beyond the households of her church's staff.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

Worship growing more diversified, survey of Protestant churches says_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

Worship growing more diversified,
survey of Protestant churches says

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

The typical worshipper in a Protestant church today is more likely to be singing choruses projected on a screen and taking notes from his pastor's PowerPoint presentation than he was five years ago, a new study reveals.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

Around the State_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

Around the State

Dusty Burris, a student at East Texas Baptist University, will be the opening act for the contemporary Christian singing duo Shane & Shane March 30 at Centenary College in Shreveport, La. The concert is free to area college students with a valid student identification card. Burris is a member of Immanuel Church in Marshall, where his father Carlton Burris is pastor.

Jessica Wright, president of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Nursing Students Association, has been elected Southern Regional Director by the Texas Nursing Students Association.

Girls in Action from First Baptist Church in Friendswood recently delivered a check for $851.71 to Texas Baptist Encampment in Palacios to help repair the damage dealt by Hurricane Claudette. They had attended the camp a few weeks before the storm and were upset to learn it had been damaged. They raised money by having a bake sale, cake walk and parents' night out. The girls are pictured with camp Director Rob Kessler in front of the Gulf Coast dorm, one of the buildings destroyed by the hurricane.

Williamson Association will hold a team leadership training course at its offices April 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Deadline for registration is March 29. For more information or to register, call (512) 930-0965. Clint Anderson is director of missions.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

Baptist Briefs_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

Baptist Briefs

Lottie Moon Offering shows increase. If initial projections hold true, giving to the 2003 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering will be up between 18 percent and 22 percent over the previous year, Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin announced recently. Surpassing the $133 million goal–or reaching the $150 million challenge goal–would enable the IMB to loosen restrictions on missionary appointments imposed in 2003, he said. The record $115 million Southern Baptists gave to the offering in 2002 was an increase of 1.15 percent over 2001 but $10 million short of the goal.

SBC online registration available. Churches can register their messengers to the 2004 Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis online at the convention's website, www.sbc.net. A church-authorized representative can complete the registration process by providing the church's seven-digit ID number (found on the Annual Church Profile); the name of the church's moderator or clerk; the church's membership, gifts to SBC causes, state convention and associational affiliations; and the messengers' names. Online registration ends at midnight June 12.

SBC child and youth registration opens. Registration is open for families who want to enroll their children in the preschool child care, the children's conference or the youth Centrifuge held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis. For all information regarding registration, visit www.sbc.net and click on "2004 SBC Annual Meeting Pre-Registration."

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

BWA seeks to put conflict behind, issues statement affirming doctrine_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

BWA seeks to put conflict behind,
issues statement affirming doctrine

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP)–Hoping to put controversy behind them, the Baptist World Alliance's Executive Committee issued a statement affirming historic Christian doctrines.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

ANOTHER VIEW by Brent Walker: ‘Under God’ invokes multiple issuues_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

ANOTHER VIEW:
'Under God' invokes multiple issues

By Brent Walker

The United States Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether teacher-led recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

The Court should rule that it does not. Here's why.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

California court denies Catholic charity religious exemption_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

California court denies Catholic charity religious exemption

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–The California Supreme Court has ruled a Catholic social-service agency must provide contraceptives as part of its prescription-drug benefit for employees, raising alarms among some religious-liberty watchers.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

Call to ministry may be in a variety of vocations, hospital CEO insists_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

Call to ministry may be in a
variety of vocations, hospital CEO insists

By Marv Knox

Editor

DALLAS–God calls people into all kinds of professions; the challenge is to seek God's will and follow it, Joel Allison told a convocation audience at Dallas Baptist University.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

Down Home: Coveting leaves sinner ‘flushed’_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

DOWN HOME:
Coveting leaves sinner 'flushed'

If confession is, as they say, good for the soul, I'm about to get better.

Here goes: I have broken the Tenth Commandment. Smashed it to bits. Obliterated it.

You say, after all the controversy of late, you don't have the Ten Commandments memorized, and you can't quite put your finger on No. 10. I have coveted.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

EDITORIAL: Christians must insist state support quality education_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

EDITORIAL:
Christians must insist state support quality education

Very soon, Gov. Rick Perry will convene a special session of the Texas Legislature to consider public school finance reform. The consequences of legislators' actions will impact Texas for at least six decades–until next fall's kindergarteners retire.

Why should Christians concern themselves with something as secular as public education? Here are several reasons:

Following Jesus' teachings, Christians should care about basic human needs.

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for March 28: Respect for all people marks a healthy church_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for March 28

Respect for all people marks a healthy church

1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for April 4: Money matters, but keep it in perspective_32204

Posted: 3/19/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for April 4

Money matters, but keep it in perspective

1 Timothy 6:3-21

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

03/19/2004 - By John Rutledge