Waco pastor leads church to embrace ethnic diversity_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

Waco pastor leads church
to embrace ethnic diversity

By George Henson

Staff Writer

WACO–Brookview Baptist Church in Waco is finding the key to its growth lies in reaching out to everyone in the community, regardless of race.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

Homes needed for Angels from Abroad_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

Homes needed for Angels from Abroad

“Angels” are looking to land in two Texas homes, according to Buckner International Adoption.

The adoption service is looking for Christian families to host two remaining sibling sets from Russia for its second installment of Angels from Abroad.

Introduced last year, the program allows adoption-minded couples and singles to host orphaned children ages 7 to 14 during their two-week vacation in Dallas June 4-20.

TOP: Dima, 11, and sister Kristina, 10; BELOW: Kostya, 12, and sister Elonara, 8, are Angels from Abroad who need host families.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

Buckner needs adoptive parents for brothers_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

Buckner needs adoptive parents for brothers

Two young brothers now in foster care need adoptive families, according to workers with Buckner Children and Family Services of Northeast Texas.

“Brandon and Justin have been in care for a long while,” reported Callie Reneau, Buckner foster care supervisor. “They each need an adoptive family soon.”

Brandon, 9, is energetic and, according to his foster mom, loves books.

Brandon	Justin

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

Cartoon_41805

Posted: 4/15/05 Altar call waiting News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and…

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

2nd Opinion: Texas Baptists urged to pray May 5_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

2nd Opinion:
Texas Baptists urged to pray May 5

By Albert Reyes

I recently had the privilege of speaking to the fifth annual Ethnic Worker's Summit, hosted by the Ethnic America Network in Irving. This network is comprised of ministers from more than 60 denominations across the United States. I was asked to speak on the subject of collaboration.

I started my presentation by reviewing three major reasons collaboration is needed at this time in our history. First, our context requires it. Given the multiple shifts taking place in our society, no one individual or organization is capable of seizing all the opportunities for the gospel in their context. Second, our constituencies expect it. The people we work with in our churches are business professionals, health-care professionals, educators, engineers and laborers who already practice collaboration in the workplace. Collaboration is not a new topic or practice for them. Third, our collective worldview predisposes us toward collaboration. Non-Western cultures tend to value cooperation more than competition.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

DOWN HOME: Apartness is a part of raising child_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

DOWN HOME:
Apartness is a part of raising children

One of the most difficult, yet fascinating, aspects of parenthood is dealing with the apartness of it all.

That's probably why I loved our daughters' infancy and preschool years so much.

Yes, parenting babies and young children is tedious and time-consuming. It's a 24/7 job. Most of it is manual labor.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

EDITORIAL: What can we learn from ticket scalpers?_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

EDITORIAL:
What can we learn from ticket scalpers?

Here's news from the well-now-I've-seen-everything department: Scalpers are collecting up to $190 for tickets to a religious service.

Popular pastor/TV preacher/author Joel Osteen is partway through his 15-city “worship tour” across America. The tour is an outgrowth of his successful TV show (according to Nielson ratings, the No. 1 “inspirational program” in the nation), which is broadcast from his charismatic Lakewood Church in Houston (according to Forbes.com, the fastest-growing congregation in America). The tour has been propelled by Osteen's enormously popular book, Your Best Life Now (according to the New York Times, a bestseller).

Osteen is so popular in Chicago that promoters extended his stay to two nights. He'll lead worship services in the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont, Ill., May 5-6. But even two nights in a major arena can't meet demand, so scalped tickets are fetching almost 20 times their $10 face value. (Folks who take pride in Texas' religiosity might be disturbed to know scalpers only got $100 for Osteen tickets in Dallas. Is Midwestern religious fervor twice as strong as Texas spiritual passion?)

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

Church aims to bring hope to city’s west side_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

Church aims to bring hope to city's west side

By Craig Bird

Baptist Child & Family Services

Jeremy Everett's office is across the street from this mosaic mural constructed for Pope John Paul's 1987 visit to San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO–The neighborhood has never seen a church like Iglesia de Esperanza, but it sure will seem familiar. At least that's the plan for a new congregation in the heart of San Antonio's west side that is a parallel–but integral–part of a Baptist-sponsored ministry to immigrants.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

Faith and the City: Relationship-building crucial to urban evangelism_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

FAITH AND THE CITY:
Relationship-building crucial to urban evangelism

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

Christians committed to sharing their faith with city-dwellers must learn to embrace paradoxes, urban ministers agree.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

Frog Theatre gets jump on ministry to college students_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

Frog Theatre gets jump on
ministry to college students

By George Henson

Staff Writer

FORT WORTH–The Frog Theatre may be an unconventional name for a church outreach ministry, but that may be the most conventional part of Second Chances' efforts to reach college students in Fort Worth.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

2005 pivotal in efforts to cut global poverty_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

2005 pivotal in efforts to cut global poverty

By Kevin Eckstrom

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–One-third of the way into the 15-year U.N. program aimed at cutting global poverty by 50 percent, church leaders and activists say progress so far has been abysmal, and 2005 is a make-or-break year for the program.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge

College classes explore the gritty gospel according to Bono_41805

Posted: 4/15/05

College classes explore the
gritty gospel according to Bono

By Charles Honey

Religion News Service

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (RNS)–Dwarfed by a giant bank of TV monitors, the rock star Bono gyrates across the arena stage–a dancing shaman channeling the ecstasy of thousands of U2 fans.

04/15/2005 - By John Rutledge