Baptist Briefs

Posted: 7/21/06

Baptist Briefs

Graham’s final sermon? Billy Graham acknowledged his appearance at his son’s July 9 crusade could be “the last time I’ll have an opportunity to preach the gospel to an audience like this,” Religion News Service reported. At age 87, the evangelist gave the closing sermon of the three-day Metro Maryland Festival headlined by his son, Franklin Graham, and organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “Unfortunately, I’m getting too old to do this,” he said. He made a similar statement about his preaching at an appearance with his son in New Orleans in March, saying, “This is probably the last evangelistic sermon I’ll ever preach.”

Warren headed to North Korea. Government officials have invited best-selling author and Baptist pastor Rick Warren to preach to at least 15,000 people in North Korea sometime next summer, a spokesperson from Warren’s Saddleback Church confirmed. Warren acknowledged his trip could be used by the Korean government—notorious for religious persecution—as propaganda or further persecution, but he said it is worth the risks. “I know they’re going to use me, so I’m going to use them,” he told reporters.

Carters join Friends of Valentine Committee. President Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter, journalist Bill Moyers, Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller and former Assistant Attorney General John Seigenthaler have joined 11 others to form the Friends of Foy Valentine Committee to raise $500,000 and partially endow Christian Ethics Today, the journal Valentine founded in 1995. Other members are Co-Chairs Darold Morgan and David Sapp, Patsy Ayres, Doug Dillard, Buckner Fanning, Bob Feather, Bob Mitchell, Herbert Reynolds, Jimmy and Linda Allen, Ross Coggins and James Dunn. For more information, visit www.ChristianEthicsToday.com.

ABP endowment named for Puckett. Associated Baptist Press has established a campaign to endow its internship program in honor of longtime Baptist state newspaper editor Gene Puckett. He retired as editor of the Biblical Recorder in North Carolina after 16 years and previously was the state paper editor in Maryland and Ohio and managing editor in Kentucky. “Gene Puckett is a tireless advocate for true and faithful Baptist leadership," said Baptist layman Ed Vick of Raleigh, N.C., who, with his wife, Laura Ann, contributed a $125,000 lead gift for the endowmwnt. “Still to this day, Gene’s influence spreads across the state of North Carolina and beyond as a voice for much-cherished and historic Baptist principles, especially freedom.” As a founding member of the ABP board of directors, Puckett championed internships as a way the independent news service could influence future generations of Baptist journalists. ABP will inaugurate the endowment and recognize Puckett’s career during its annual Religious Freedom Award banquet Sept. 11 in Raleigh. Plans call for summer, semester and yearlong internships.

Drug-battler Stone dies. Ted Stone, an evangelist and former drug addict, died near Nashville of undetermined causes July 16 during his fourth walk across America. Stone used the nationwide walks to build up audiences for his victory-over-drugs message. “I used to be a drug addict, but I am no longer a drug addict,” he often said. “I am recovered forever by the grace of God, and that same hope can belong to you or anyone you love.” He started his latest walk June 19 in Chicago and hoped to reach Pensacola, Fla. He spoke at churches along the route and was planning to speak at College Heights Baptist Church in Gallatin, Tenn., when he became unconscious and later was pronounced dead.

LifeWay taps Hill for Glorieta. Hal Hill has been named director of LifeWay Camps and Glorieta Conference Center near Santa Fe, N.M. The facility is owned by LifeWay Christian Resources, the Southern Baptist Convention’s publishing house. Hill has been national camp manager for LifeWay since 2004. Previously, he was a minister at three churches, staff member of the SBC Brotherhood Commission and the Georgia Baptist Convention and manager of a conference center near Seattle. He also worked for LifeWay in several capacities. He succeeds Steve Grassfield.

Leland Center accredited. The John Leland Center for Theological Studies has received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools. It offers diploma, master of divinity and master of theological studies classes to about 150 students. Formed by area leaders attending the 1997 Baptist World Alliance meeting, the center emphasizes diversity and a commitment to churches in and near Washington, D.C. It was named to honor the 18th century Baptist Pastor John Leland, who influenced Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in securing religious freedom for U.S. citizens.