Baptist Briefs_40405

Posted: 4/01/05

Journal focuses on the Baptist community. The Baptist History and Heritage Society recently released The Baptist Community, the society's winter 2005 journal issue. Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Denton Lotz wrote the introductory article, "Who and Where in the World are the Baptists?" Other articles address the history and work of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, Progressive National Baptists, Korean Baptists, Pentecostal Free Will Baptists and Seventh Day Baptists. To order the journal, e-mail pdurso@tnbaptist.org or call (800) 966-2278. The cost is $8 plus shipping.

CBF offers sabbatical grants. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's Initiative for Ministerial Excellence is accepting applications for 45 sabbatical grants to be awarded in 2006. Pastors who have been in the same ministry setting for at least seven years are eligible to apply for the $2,500 grants. The pastor's congregation must approve the sabbatical, which must be a minimum of four weeks. The sabbatical program is part of a $1.9 million Lilly Endowment grant that also has created 56 peer learning networks and ministry residencies for recent seminary graduates. For more information, call (804) 379-0915.

GuideStone seeks needy retirees. GuideStone Financial Resources–formerly the Southern Baptist Annuity Board–wants to locate retired Southern Baptist workers, ministers or widows whose income is insufficient to meet their daily needs and offer assistance through its Adopt an Annuitant program. The program is open to retirees age 65 or older with 10 years or more paid Southern Baptist service who have income of less than $1,250 per month for single applicants and less than $1,665 per month for married applicants. Applicants also must have less than $30,000 in assets, excluding their home. A widow or widower married at least 10 years to an individual who would have met the qualifications also is eligible to apply. Qualified individuals receive $200 a month, and qualified couples receive $265 a month. Depending on their situation, they may receive monthly support, a one-time grant or emergency assistance. For information, e-mail adopt@GuideStone.org, call (800) 262-0511, or visit the website at www.guidestone.org and select Adopt an Annuitant from the menu.

CBF offers weekly online sermons. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has launched a "sermon of the week" feature on its website. CBF of Georgia Coordinator Frank Broome is managing the project. Sermons must be submitted in electronic format for consideration. The complete manuscript must be positive, biblically based and appropriate for the season. It must have been preached at a CBF partner church within the past year. A new sermon will be featured each Monday at www.thefellowship.info/News/sermon.icm.

Companions in Christ training offered. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Faith Formation Initiative will offer Companions in Christ training in both English and Spanish June 29 during the CBF General Assembly in Grapevine. Carolyn Shapard of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas and Jorene Swift from Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth will be the English facilitators. Carmen Gaud, international editor for Upper Room Ministries, will facilitate the Hispanic session. The cost for the training is $100, which includes all sessions, meals and materials used in the training sessions.

CBF co-sponsors spiritual formation conference. The Cooperative Baptist is a sponsoring organization for Renovaré's International Conference June 19-22 in Denver, Colo. Keynote speakers will be author and Renovaré founder Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, author and professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. Fellowship participants can register at a discount rate of $149. More information is available at www.renovare.org/journey_events_2005ic.htm.