2007 Archives
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Elder statesman Fletcher lauded as educator, writer
Posted: 6/08/07
Bill Pitts (left) of Independence Association presents this year’s Elder Statesman Award to Jesse Fletcher. Elder statesman Fletcher
lauded as educator, writerBy Ferrell Foster
Texas Baptist Communications
INDEPENDENCE—Texas Baptists honored educator and author Jesse Fletcher as recipient of this year’s Elder Statesman Award in a special service at Independence Baptist Church June 3.
The award is given each year by the Independence Association to honor significant contributions to Baptist education in Texas.
06/08/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Faith Digest
Posted: 6/08/07
Faith Digest
Creation Museum opens. The Answers in Genesis Ministry opened a $27 million Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., just across the state line from Cincinnati, Memorial Day weekend. The main hall of the 60,000-square-foot building features animatronic dinosaurs and figures of young children playing near each other in a way its owners believe life really occurred some 6,000 years ago. The state-of-the-art museum includes vibrating seats and sprays of water in a theater that depicts Noah’s flood, and extensive exhibits that claim the Grand Canyon could have formed around the time of that flood rather than millions of years ago as suggested by most scientists.
Crusade crew reunites for library opening. Song leader Cliff Barrows, 84, and soloist George Beverly Shea, 98, joined their longtime crusade partner Billy Graham in a rare public appearance at the dedication of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C. Graham, 88, also was joined by his son, Franklin, who heads his father’s ministry and by three former presidents—George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton—who took turns praising the evangelist. The $27 million library and history complex includes a barn-styled building reminiscent of the dairy farm where Graham spent his boyhood years, with a 40-foot glass cross as its entrance.
06/08/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Baptist Forum
Posted: 6/08/07
Texas Baptist Forum
Falwell’s legacy
I was surprised at the article concerning Jerry Falwell’s legacy (May 28). No mention was made of the evangelical outreach that showed the road to salvation for thousands and thousands of souls over his 50-year ministry.
Actual evangelism as an evangelical Christian will always be his greatest legacy. It wasn’t the television, radio, university or controversial comments that his ministry was built upon. It was the winning of souls at every opportunity.
• Jump to online-only letters below Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum. 
“The tragic thing is to think how many churches this Sunday will be treated to safe, nice, harmless, insignificant, intramural and Trivial Pursuit sermons. There are going to be an awful lot of sermons preached in Christian churches … that actually probably help the world become a worse place.”
Brian McLaren
Author and former pastor (ABP)“I feel like I’ve been attending my own funeral.”
Billy Graham
Evangelist, joking about the dedication ceremony of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C. (RNS)“I share with my comedian friends who primarily work comedy clubs that if they want a real challenge, come try to make a roomful of Baptist deacons laugh without a two-drink minimum! Then we'll see how funny you really are!”
Chondra Pierce
Christian comedian (Today's Christian/RNS)That is the thing that all ministries should be based upon.
06/08/2007 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Who’s going to fill their huge shoes?
Posted: 6/08/07
TOGETHER:
Who’s going to fill their huge shoes?Three great Texas Baptist leaders died in the past few weeks: John Baugh, founder of Sysco and strong Baptist layman; Herbert Reynolds, Baylor University’s 11th president; and Ronald Edwards, pastor of Minnehulla Baptist Church in Goliad and president of the African American Fellowship.
At John Baugh’s funeral, Daniel Vestal, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship coordinator and his former pastor, described how he believed in the priesthood of each and all believers. He believed America had grown great because of the Baptist witness to religious liberty and our conviction of soul competency in matters of faith.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
His generosity to Baptist causes was legendary. One gift I would mention: He helped bring hundreds of pastors and spouses together for fellowship and retreat. He asked us to tell them: “A Baptist layman believes in you and is grateful for the sacrificial service you and your families give to the cause of Christ. This is a way for a layman to say, ‘Thank you for all you do.’” That word healed marriages and sent pastors back to their tasks with vigor and dedication.
Herbert Reynolds loved Baylor and Texas Baptists. He believed the future of Texas, as well as the eternal future of Texans, depended on reaching people for Christ; and he believed new churches were a key strategy in helping that happen. He believed strong Baptist churches were a key ingredient also to a strong Baylor future.
06/08/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Former Baylor president’s death marks end of an era
Updated: 6/08/07
Former Baylor president’s
death marks end of an eraBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
WACO—Texas Baptist leaders agreed Baylor University President Emeritus Herbert Reynolds’ death marked the end of an era in Baptist life.
Reynolds died May 25 at his family’s second home in Angel Fire, N.M., at age 77 from what was presumed to be a heart attack.
Herbert H. Reynolds 06/07/2007 - By John Rutledge
