2007 Archives
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Young adults will leave church if they’re overlooked, study says
Updated: 1/19/07
Young adults will leave church
if they’re overlooked, study saysBy Libby Lovelace
LifeWay Christian Resources
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—More young adults are falling away from church and finding church irrelevant to their lives because their needs are not being met, new statistics released by LifeWay Christian Resources revealed.
In 1980, more than 100,000 people age 18 to 34 were baptized in Southern Baptist churches. But in 2005, that number fell to 60,000—a drastic drop considering the United States population has climbed above 300 million.
Research Project Results:
• Most important spiritual opportunities for young adults who attend church regularly• Most important spiritual opportunities for young adults who do not attend church regularly
Related Articles:
• Students learn to own their faith during college years
• Young adults will leave church if they’re overlooked, study says01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Baptist leaders applaud call for inclusive convocation
Updated: 1/19/07
Texas Baptist leaders applaud
call for inclusive convocationBy Barbara Bedrick
Texas Baptist Communications
ATLANTA—Texas Baptist leaders affirmed former President Jimmy Carter’s call for an inclusive convocation of North American Baptists next year.
Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director Charles Wade joined Carter and more than 80 leaders of about 40 Baptist groups in announcing plans for convocation, tentatively slated for Jan. 30-Feb.1, 2008, in Atlanta.
See Related Articles:
• Carter, Clinton use convocation to call Baptists to compassion
• Planned 2008 convocation grows from desire for ‘new Baptist voice’
• Texas Baptist leaders applaud call for inclusive convocation’
• Baptist leaders insist covenant offers chance to heal racial wounds’01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Baptist leaders insist covenant offers chance to heal racial wounds
Updated: 1/19/07
Baptist leaders insist covenant
offers chance to heal racial woundsBy Greg Warner
Associated Baptist Press
ATLANTA (ABP)—Advocates of the New Baptist Covenant championed by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton predicted it will help heal the racial divide that has separated Baptists in America since before the Civil War.
William Shaw, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, said a New Baptist Covenant championed by former President Jimmy Carter holds the potential for Baptists across racial lines to address issues in “nonpartisan … (but) prophetic ways.” (RNS file photo by Aimee Jeansonne) Speaking on behalf of 40 Baptist denominations and organizations in the United States and Canada Jan. 9, Carter and Clinton—two of the world’s most famous Baptist laymen—announced the groups had committed to put aside more than a century and a half of social and theological differences to unite behind an agenda of compassionate ministry.
See Related Articles:
• Carter, Clinton use convocation to call Baptists to compassion
• Planned 2008 convocation grows from desire for ‘new Baptist voice’
• Texas Baptist leaders applaud call for inclusive convocation’
• Baptist leaders insist covenant offers chance to heal racial wounds’01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Reyes sees move to Buckner as natural progression
Updated: 1/19/07
Reyes sees move to Buckner as natural progression
By Marv Knox
Editor
Although Albert Reyes’ recent career change caught many Texas Baptists by surprise, he sees it as the next step in God’s plan for his life: An opportunity to minister to millions of orphans whose lives may make an impact on the world.
Nearly eight years ago, Reyes became president of Baptist University of the Americas, a multi-cultural training school for ministers in San Antonio. Under his leadership, BUA multiplied its enrollment, gained certification to grant academic degrees, earned national accreditation and launched a campaign to construct a new campus.
Albert Reyes 01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Hall: ‘Still a lot for me to do’ at Buckner
Updated: 1/19/07
Hall: 'Still a lot for me to do’ at Buckner
By Marv Knox
Editor
The selection of Albert Reyes to lead Buckner Children & Family Services signals not only a decisive personnel change, but also a shift in vision and focus for Buckner International, Ken Hall insists.
Now, Buckner is poised to present Christ—not only spiritually, but also physically—to the world’s poorest children, said Hall, president of Buckner International, which encompasses not only ministry to children and their families, but also care for senior adults, as well as fund-raising support for the ministries.
Ken Hall 01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Bloggers to ask Executive Board to protect voting rights of messengers
Updated: 1/19/07
Bloggers seek to launch movement
By Ken Camp
Managing Editor
MESQUITE—Some participants called the meeting the start of a movement, and others labeled it the launch of an organization. Whatever form it may take, a small group of Texas Baptists met to discuss ways to fund some Baptist General Convention of Texas ministries to which their churches are committed—but not necessarily support a state convention in which they feel they have no voice.
Three Baptist bloggers—Kevin Holmes, pastor of Edgemont Park Baptist Church in Mesquite; Rick Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Brownwood; and David Montoya, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Mineral Wells—convened the group Jan. 16 in Mesquite.
01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Pastor sees end of one congregation as ‘New Beginning’
Posted: 1/19/07
Eugene Nail (left), outgoing pastor of Midfield First Baptist Church, stands in the sanctuary of the new home for New Beginnings Baptist Church, led by Pastor Angulus Wilson (right). (RNS photo by Jerry Ayres/The Birmingham News) Pastor sees end of one
congregation as ‘New Beginning’By Greg Garrison
Religion News Service
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS)—Midfield First Baptist Church, which had dwindled to about 40 mostly elderly, white worshippers, recently held its last service in the church building it had called home for nearly 50 years.
A week later, it handed over the keys—and its $1.8 million property—to a predominantly African-American congregation—New Beginnings Baptist Church—in a property giveaway that gives new meaning to the church’s name.
01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Around the State
Posted: 1/19/07
Around the State
• J.B. Boren, current dean of the Wayland Baptist University campus in Albuquerque, N.M., has been named dean of the campus in Amarillo, effective in February. He has served in Albuquerque since 2003.
• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor awarded degrees to 156 undergraduate students and 19 master’s-degree students during winter commencement. Martha Farris, a 1942 graduate, presented the commencement address and received an honorary doctor of humanities degree for her contributions to her community and the university. The Alpha Chi Award for the highest grade-point average was shared by Catherine Chadwell, Lauren Graber, Michelle Hodges, Brandi Mordan, Jelle Scheepstra and Barbara Wright.
Rainbow Church in Rye celebrated its 16th anniversary last month and also was able to pay off the church’s indebtedness. Pastor Clyde Somers, pictured with his wife, Beverly, has led the church since it began. • Dallas Baptist University has added four faculty members. They are Debra Collins, assistant professor of library science and library cataloguer; Evelyn Daniels, assistant professor of management; June Elms, assistant professor of kinesiology; and Dionisio Flietas, assistant professor of mathematics.
• Karen Wiley has been named director of the office of institutional research and effectiveness at East Texas Baptist University. Wiley has served the school more than 20 years, most recently as assistant professor of computer science.
01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Born-again bikers running full-throttle for Jesus
Posted: 1/19/07
Members of the Hellfighters bikers group in Huntsville, Ala., include (left to right) James Caffery, Lynn Caffery, David Bates, Possum Pierce, Chris Roberson, Richard Headrick, Gina Headrick and Joanna Roberson. Born-again bikers running
full-throttle for JesusBy Kay Campbell
Religion News Service
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (RNS)—The cruisers rumble into the parking lot in quick pairs. The riders dismount, shaking ponytails out of their helmets. They’ve got patches on their leather jackets, tattoos on their arms and eyes that have seen everything.
But these bikers have Jesus in their hearts and Bibles in their saddlebags.
01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Book Reviews
Posted: 1/19/07
Book Reviews
The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge (Nelson Books)
The premise of John Eldredge’s latest book is simple—“acting as a true Father, and you his true son, God is now raising you up as a son.” Intentional training and initiation is the mode presented by which boys are raised into men. Like every book on men, Eldredge bemoans what is lacking in our churches today. But different from most other books is his plan to correct what has been lost.
Having once been adamantly against Eldredge’s approach to men, I came to this book with my doubts. I still find his theological foundations to be weak at times but improved over Wild at Heart. God the risk taker of Wild at Heart gives way now to God the warrior in The Way of the Wild Heart. The constant hunt for a wound in need of healing also wears on me, but that may be because I am blessed with a great earthly father.
What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com. This book probably was under many Christmas trees recently, and I believe that is a good thing. Eldredge’s clarity in describing his understanding of the stages of manhood is helpful and thought-provoking. His openness with his own life as a son and as a father is engaging. Many fathers will benefit from the chapters following the description of each man-stage, which detail how to intentionally raise your own son.
01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Baptist Briefs
Posted: 1/19/07
Baptist Briefs
N.C. editor to join Campbell Divinity faculty. Tony Cartledge, editor of the Biblical Recorder, newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, will join the faculty of Campbell University Divinity School. Cartledge will assume his new duties as associate professor of Old Testament Aug. 15. Cartledge earned degrees from the University of Georgia, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Duke University. Prior to joining the staff of the Biblical Recorder, Cartledge served 26 years as pastor of churches in Georgia and North Carolina. Cartledge and his wife, Jan, are the parents of three children—Russ, Bethany (who died in 1994 at the age of 7) and Samuel.
Southern Seminary president released from hospital. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler was discharged Jan. 10 from Louisville’s Baptist Hospital East following a two-week hospitalization that included extensive abdominal surgery and a four-day stay in the intensive care unit due to blood clots in the lungs. He was admitted to the hospital Dec. 27 complaining of intense abdominal pain and underwent surgery the following day. While physicians reported the procedure went well and Mohler’s abdominal issues were remedied, the development of blood clots led doctors to move Mohler to intensive care.
01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Cartoon
Posted: 1/19/07
“Is that Sam Larson with an ‘e’ or an ‘o’? It’s just a vowel, but it could make all the difference in the world.” 01/19/2007 - By John Rutledge
