Baptist Briefs_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Baptist Briefs

Lottie Moon Offering posts record increase. Southern Baptists gave $136,204,648 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions–an increase of almost $21.2 million (18.4 percent) over 2002. It marked the largest dollar increase in the offering's 115-year history.

FamilyNet will cover SBC. FamilyNet television will broadcast daily news reports from the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, June 15-16. FamilyNet is a 24-hour, Fort Worth-based network owned and operated by the SBC North American Mission Board.

Baptist World Congress speakers announced. A best-selling author and a former president of the United States will headline the 100th birthday celebration of the Baptist World Alliance at the Baptist World Centenary Congress, July 27-31, 2005, in Birmingham, England. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of "The Purpose-Driven Life" and the "Purpose-Driven Church" will be a keynote speaker. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter–a Nobel Peace Prize laureate–will teach an international Sunday school class at the meeting. Billy Kim will bring his final message as BWA president after five years in office.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

Buckner Protective Homemakers program reunites, strengthens families_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Buckner Protective Homemakers
program reunites, strengthens families

By Russ Dilday

Buckner News Service

LEVELLAND–Five children are wrestling, watching television, munching on snacks and playing games–seemingly all at the same time–inside a modest, three-bedroom mobile home. Above the noise and activity, their mother smiles and says her life is “normal.”

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

Bush-Cheney campaign under fire for effort to identify, target ‘friendly’ congregations_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Bush-Cheney campaign under fire for
effort to identify, target 'friendly' congregations

By Adelle Banks

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–The Bush-Cheney campaign is under fire from church-state separationists for asking supporters to help identify “friendly congregations” in Pennsylvania that might be good locations for distribution of campaign information.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

President tells editors he sees his role as a voice for cultural change_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

President tells editors he sees his
role as a voice for cultural change

WASHINGTON (RNS)–President Bush described himself as a cultural change agent in a group interview with editors and writers of conservative Christian publications.

“The job of a president is to help cultures change,” Bush told the nine writers and executives, according to an edited transcript posted on ChristianityToday.com. “Governments cannot change culture alone. I want you to know I understand that. But I can be a voice of cultural change.”

In the wide-ranging discussion, Bush addressed domestic and foreign policy, his personal prayer life and his defense of a “culture of life” and traditional marriage.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

Volunteers with Texas ties launch Coast Guard Academy student ministry_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Volunteers with Texas ties launch
Coast Guard Academy student ministry

By Janelle Bagci

Staff Writer

NEW LONDON, Conn.–Two Mission Service Corps volunteers with Texas ties are launching a student ministry in one of the nation's most spiritually needy areas.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

ANOTHER VIEW: Distorted lenses show false division_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

ANOTHER VIEW:
Distorted lenses show false division

By Jimmy Dorrell

All Christians wear glasses of sorts. The lens of one's worldview, often shaped by the culture a person grows up in, impacts how faith and mission are seen. The lens of Western thinking has distorted several biblical, historical, and practical factors and caused an unfortunate myopia about the relationship between evangelism and social ministries.

Biblical lapses.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

Lawmakers introduce bill to provide debt relief to world’s poorest nations_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Lawmakers introduce bill to provide
debt relief to world's poorest nations

By Daniel Burke

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced the Jubilee Act in the House of Representatives–a bill that would cancel debts the world's poorest countries owe the International Monetary Fund.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

Disney boycott thrust SBC leaders into national spotlight_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Disney boycott thrust SBC
leaders into national spotlight

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

ORLANDO (ABP)–Southern Baptists' much-publicized boycott of the Walt Disney Co. had little effect on the media conglomerate, but it established the Southern Baptist Convention as the dominant denominational voice for conservative values, says the author of a forthcoming book.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

EDITORIAL: Represent God for $29.95_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

EDITORIAL:
Represent God for $29.95

Here's the latest from the this-would-be-funny-if-it-weren't-so-pathetic department: You can become a “legally ordained minister” within 48 hours.

At least that's what a new e-mail spam offers.

Yes, brothers and sisters, for only $29.95, anyone with a credit card and access to e-mail can get ordained. This is a value “easily worth $100,” according to IIS Ministries, the spammer behind this eternity-changing opportunity.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

EDITORIAL: Catholics, Kerry & church discipline_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

EDITORIAL:
Catholics, Kerry & church discipline

Pity Catholics in this election year. They're divided over whether politicians who support abortion rights and/or gay marriage should receive Communion (what most Baptists call the Lord's Supper). And for Catholics, it's not just a ceremony tacked onto the end of worship service once a quarter. Taking Communion is understood as central to being Catholic–and obtaining salvation.

If a bishop were to deny the “body and blood of Christ” to John Kerry due to his support for abortion rights, the results would reverberate spiritually and politically. Imagine the anguish of rejection by your own church. Imagine the fallout if Catholic voters feared a similar fate for supporting a fallen candidate.

Such censure does not await George Bush. One reason is because he agrees with the Catholic hierarchy on those issues. Another is because he's beyond their reach. Protestants don't believe the Roman Catholic Church can dispense or withhold God's grace. So, while the Catholic bishops' implied support may be politically comforting, the threat of their disapproval (he does counter their teaching on capital punishment) is not spiritually daunting.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

Moore honored with Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Award_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

Moore honored with Texas
Baptist Elder Statesman Award

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

INDEPENDENCE–Winfred Moore served as a pastor in the Panhandle for more than 30 years. He was honored on a statewide platform June 8 as an “elder statesman” in recognition of a lifetime of ministry.

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 20: God uses unassuming people to do his will_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 20

God uses unassuming people to do his will

2 Kings 5:1-27

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

06/11/2004 - By John Rutledge