HOPE ministry helps fill Christmas stockings for needy Round Rock children_122004

Posted: 12/10/04

HOPE ministry helps fill Christmas
stockings for needy Round Rock children

By Miranda Bradley

Texas Baptist Children’s Home

ROUND ROCK—More than 50 children waited impatiently in a line outside the Chisholm Trail Apartments community center, eager to catch a glimpse of Santa and the toys he had just for them.

12/10/2004 - By John Rutledge

At Seaman’s Center, the world comes to Santa_122004

Posted: 12/10/04

At Seaman's Center, the world comes to Santa

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

FREEPORT—The Seaman’s Center might be able to teach Santa a thing or two.

12/10/2004 - By John Rutledge

‘Noose of conformity’ tightens in Baptist life, observers assert_120604

Posted: 12/03/04 'Noose of conformity' tightens in Baptist life, observers assert By Greg Warner (ABP) — Those who look for denominational trends are disturbed by several recent actions they say…

12/07/2004 - By John Rutledge

Storylist for 12/06 issue_120604

Storylist for 12/06/04 issue GO TO SECTIONS: • Texas       • Baptists       • Faith       • Departments      • Opinion       • Bible Study      • DBU students, faculty fill shoeboxes…

12/05/2004 - By John Rutledge

Congress includes anti-abortion provision in its omnibus spending package_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Congress includes anti-abortion
provision in its omnibus spending package

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Shortly before leaving town for their Thanksgiving break, members of Congress slipped into a spending bill a provision that supporters say limits “discrimination” against anti-abortion hospitals but that opponents say will circumvent state laws intended to guarantee access to abortion services.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Around the State_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Around the State

Four bivocational pastors and their wives were honored during the 18th annual Bivocational Ministers and Spouses Conference. Carlton and Dianna Bailey of Mount Calvary Church of Marysee in Hull were selected as 2004 Exemplary Bivocational Pastor and Wife. Kevin Shipp of Avondale Church in Sweetwater is was named 2004 Exemplary Bivocation Minister of Music. He also is the church's education and children's minister. Two couples were honored for their youth ministry efforts. Sammy and Japana Roberts of Arlington Christian Bible Fellowship in Arlington, and Benji and Kathy Cole of Lone Willow Church in Cleburne were both named 2004 Exemplary Bivocational Youth Ministers.

Jack Longbotham, retired professor of education at Hardin-Simmons University, and this wife, Elizabeth, have completed a children's book, “The Adventures of Buffalo Bill and Cody.” The volume completes a triology of children's books which seek to foster an appreciation for the buffalo. The Longbothams have buffalo on their ranch. The book is bound in HSU colors and is available in the university bookstore.

Converse Hispanic Church in Converse recently incorporated as a bilingual congregation thanks to Trinity Church in San Antonio. The San Antonio congregation had sponsored the Hispanic mission 20 years, and gifted them the land and facilities there so that church could become a self-supporting body without incurring significant debt. Trinity Pastor Charlie Johnson (left) signed over the deed of trust to Converse Pastor Jesse Aguilar. The congregation also honored retired pastor Jimmy Garcia, founding pastor of the mission.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor newspaper, The Bells, and the yearbook, The Bluebonnet, received national recognition at the Baptist Press Excellence in Journalism conference held in Nashville, Tenn. The Bells won first place overall in its division, and the Bluebonnet received third place overall in the yearbook category. Individual newspaper awards went to Natalie Kaspar, first for in-depth writing, second for column writing and third for front page design; Leslie Helms, first for infographics and second for photo spread; Amanda Dickinson, second for feature writing; and a group of four reporters, third for in-depth writing. Winners of individual yearbook awards were Christi Snow, first for student life copy; Sara Hillis, first and second for portrait spread design; Tiffany Turk, first for creative/artistic photo, second for sports/club design and third for photo spread; and Jacob Sais, third for personality spread.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

BaptistWay Bible Series for Dec. 12: Jesus reminds his disciples to do what is right_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

BaptistWay Bible Series for Dec. 12

Jesus reminds his disciples to do what is right

Matthew 5:17-48

By Todd Still

Truett Seminary, Waco

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

BaptistWay Bible Series for Dec. 19: Make God the focus of giving, prayers, fasting_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

BaptistWay Bible Series for Dec. 19

Make God the focus of giving, prayers, fasting

Matthew 6:1-18

By Todd Still

Truett Seminary, Waco

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Baptist Briefs_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Baptist Briefs

Baylor dean named Belmont VP. Todd Lake, dean for university life at Baylor University, has been named vice president for spiritual development at Belmont University in Nashville. Lake came to Baylor in 1999 from Wingate University as dean of chapel and minister to the university community. Under Lake's direction, Baylor's university ministries office began Baylor's resident chaplain program, which allows Truett Seminary students to live and minister in 10 residence halls. Other initiatives launched during his tenure include discipline-specific mission trips and service-learning opportunities, sports chaplaincy, graduate and law school Christian fellowships and partnerships with various university departments for chapel speakers. Lake received his bachelor's degree in German studies magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1982. He studied at Princeton Seminary before earning his master of divinity degree in 1988 from Southern Seminary. In 1997, he earned his doctorate in systematic theology with a minor in church history at Boston College.

CBF task force changes name. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's ecumenical task force has changed its named to the task force on ecumenism and justice. "We wanted to acknowledge that we, as a task force, were not an ecumenical body because we are composed only of Baptists. But we are Baptists uniting to do the work of ecumenism, justice and interfaith dialogue," said task force member Chris Skidmore, who works as associate director of the Kentucky Council of Churches. The task force plans to develop an ecumenism resource kit for pastors and churches. The kit will include a bibliography of literature about ecumenism and "Building Bridges," a brochure describing the Fellowship's position on ecumenism. Initial versions of the kit will focus on relationships between Christian groups.

National WMU acknowledges Virginia WMU's autonomy. Rather than responding directly to the "declaration of the dignity of women" statement adopted by Virginia Woman's Missionary Union, national WMU Executive Director Wanda Lee simply noted national WMU and Virginia WMU are autonomous organizations. The Virginia WMU declaration alleges discrimination "against women in the work of Christian ministry" and takes particular aim at the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, which asserts only men are biblically qualified to be pastors." Just as every state Baptist convention is an autonomous body, so is each state WMU organization, particularly as they deal with issues in their state," Lee said. "We respect the autonomy of both bodies and their right to speak for themselves."

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Baptist University of the Americas seeks BWA associate membership_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Baptist University of the Americas
seeks BWA associate membership

SAN ANTONIO–Baptist University of the Americas has applied for associate membership in the Baptist World Alliance.

At its July meeting in Seoul, South Korea, the Baptist World Alliance General Council amended the international organization's constitution to allow associate membership.

The new membership category was created “to involve Baptist churches and organized Baptist groups in the global ministry of the Baptist World Alliance through prayer, the sharing of resources and participation in the meetings, congresses and conferences of the Baptist World Alliance,” the amendment stated.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Little good news for Baptist World Alliance in state convention meetings_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Little good news for Baptist World
Alliance in state convention meetings

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP)– If the Baptist World Alliance, which lost its largest member and funder earlier this year, hoped to recoup some of that funding from state Baptist conventions, the organization got little encouragement during the recent round of convention meetings.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Hispanic & Anglo churches pool resources, expand ministries_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Hispanic & Anglo churches pool resources, expand ministries

By George Henson

Staff Writer

DALLAS–Members of Cockrell Hill and Hampton Place Baptist churches in Dallas believe in the power of synergy. Merging their congregations has provided a wealth of assets that exceeds what the two churches held apart from each another.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge