UMHB Easter Pageant_41904

Posted: 4/16/04 UMHB Easter Pageant Erich Lopez of Hutto portrayed Jesus Christ in the 65th annual outdoor Easter pageant at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in Belton. He is seen…

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Church-goers less likely to gamble, Gallup poll reveals_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Church-goers less likely to gamble, Gallup poll reveals

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Americans who attend church every week are less likely to gamble than those who do not, according to a recent Gallup Poll.

Only 52 percent of Americans who said they go to church weekly gambled in the past 12 months, while 74 percent of those who seldom or never attend religious services said they gamble.

The poll, conducted in December 2003, asked 1,011 adults about 11 forms of gambling, from buying state lottery tickets to video casinos to betting on sports.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Postmoderns value authenticity, not authority, pastor says_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Postmoderns value authenticity, not authority, pastor says

By Tom Allen

Faithworks

MINNEAPOLIS (ABP)–Clad in faded jeans, paisley shirt and sandals, Doug Pagitt doesn't look much like a preacher.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Reyes challenges Texas churches to ‘fill the gap’ to leave no child behind_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Reyes challenges Texas churches to
'fill the gap' to leave no child behind

By Eric Guel & Craig Bird

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The federal government asked Albert Reyes to help address what U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige has called the nation's “most important civil rights issue”–the academic achievement gap between Hispanic and Anglo students on standardized exams.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Tidbits_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Texas Tidbits

Hardin-Simmons faculty president elected. Ronald Smith, senior theology professor in the Logsdon School of Theology, has been elected faculty president at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Smith has been on the Hardin-Simmons faculty since 1979. Other new faculty officers are Donathan Taylor, associate professor and head of the history department, as vice president, and Allyn Byars, associate professor of physical education and director of the aerobics and human performance lab, as secretary.

Donaldson named Wayland VP. Wayland Baptist University has named Betty Donaldson vice president for institutional advancement. She will oversee development and fund-raising for the university, as well as the alumni services and communications/public relations offices. Donaldson earned both her undergraduate degree and a master's degree in education administration from Wayland. She was vice president of Learning Bridges Educational Company in Arizona and has served in administrative posts with several school districts.

HBU offers workshop. Houston Baptist University and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies will present a workshop on ethical and risk management concerns in Christian psychotherapy April 23 on the HBU campus. Randolph Sanders of New Braunfels, executive director of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, will be the featured speaker. For more information, contact (281) 649-3000, ext. 2316, or rnero@hbu.edu.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

TOGETHER: Texas Baptists offer hope, God’s love_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

TOGETHER:
Texas Baptists offer hope, God's love

Because of Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection, Christians want to offer hope and the love of God everywhere. Three stories illustrate how Texas Baptists are seeking to do just that.

On April 4, quiet streams became raging floods all around Piedras Negras. Pastor Israel Rodriguez called Dexton Shores, director of Texas Baptist River Ministry, for help. He said, “I knew Dexton would get the word to the rest of Texas Baptists.” Dexton left San Antonio as soon as he could load a truck with blankets, clothes and drinking water. He sent word to Texas Baptists as well. Tuesday afternoon, Bluebonnet Baptist Association's Texas Baptist Men feeding unit crossed the border with a water purification system.

Because Texas Baptist Men, led by Leo Smith, have a servant spirit and respect the people with whom they work, doors swing open wherever they go. Guadalupe Morales, wife of the governor of the state of Coahuila, was impressed with the range of services Texas Baptists were providing and their willingness to work under the direction of Mexican officials. Due to her influence, Texas Baptist volunteers were invited to the hardest-hit neighborhood at Villa de Fuente.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Former Texas Baptist pastor and new bride commit lives, love to reaching New England_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Former Texas Baptist pastor and new bride
commit lives, love to reaching New England

By Marv Knox

Editor

CHELSEA, Vt.–H.B. Graves popped two questions when he proposed marriage to Jo Maddox.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Retired Texans coordinate missions volunteers in Vermont_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Retired Texans coordinate missions volunteers in Vermont

By Marv Knox

Editor

MONTPELIER, Vt.–Johnnie and Lahoma Loar may not look the part, but they're expert jugglers.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Video terminals could open door to Texas casinos, CLC says_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Video terminals could open
door to Texas casinos, CLC says

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

Texas Gov. Rick Perry wants to introduce a new level of gambling in the state, and a Baptist legislative expert says it is opening the door to casino-type gaming.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Buckner signs on as first strategic partner with WorldconneX network_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Buckner signs on as first strategic
partner with WorldconneX network

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS–Buckner Orphan Care International has become the first “strategic partner” with WorldconneX, the missions network created by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Christian band goes backwards down under_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Christian band goes backwards down under

By Jonathan Petty

Wayland Baptist University

PLAINVIEW–A conversation with an Australian pastor helped Clinton Staj understand he and the other members of his musical group were planning to do things backwards down under.

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cybercolumn for 4/19 by Berry D. Simpson: The right guy_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

CYBERCOLUMN:
The right guy

By Berry D. Simpson

At lunch, during a conversation about career choices and ministries and teaching the Bible and leading discussion groups and spiritual theories and what comes next in our lives, Art asked: “You once said that you’re always one book away from having all the answers. Have you found that book yet? Have you figured out the answers?”

I said: “No, but it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. I’ve decided that searching for answers is more important than the answers themselves.”

04/16/2004 - By John Rutledge