2007 Archives
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Are some people born to be religious?
Posted: 4/13/07
Alister McGrath, at podium, presents his arguments against atheism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. On the other side was Daniel Dennett (right) of Tufts University. Robert Stewart, an associate professor of philosophy and theology (center), moderated the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum. (RNS/courtesy of Boyd Guy/New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) Are some people born to be religious?
By Bruce Nolan
Religion News Service
NEW ORLEANS (RNS)—A recent debate at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was titled “The Future of Atheism,” but the heart of the dialogue explored a related question: Can mankind’s age-old belief in God be explained purely as a stubbornly recurring natural phenomenon—not much different than the common cold?
There is provocative evidence that is so, argued Daniel Dennett, a Tufts University philosopher, atheist and author of Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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When Howard Payne students show love to child, it leads Muslim family to church
Posted: 4/13/07
When Howard Payne students show love
to child, it leads Muslim family to churchBy Kalie Lowrie
Howard Payne University
Howard Payne University students (right to left in the foreground) Lindsay Brimer, Kristen Griffin, and team leader Amy Perkins help serve lunch to the homeless in Harlem through the Salvation Army. (Photo/provided by Amy Perkins) NEW YORK—Adam, a little boy in Queens, brought his devoutly Muslim family to Sunday school at a Christian church. They never had been interested in Christianity before, but after Adam spent the week with nine Christian students from Brownwood, they were ready to see what it was all about.
Those nine students from Howard Payne University—along with 40 of their peers—traveled to New York City for spring break to minister to people in the Big Apple.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Churches show lasting benefits from intentional interim ministry, study says
Posted: 4/13/07
Churches show lasting benefits from
intentional interim ministry, study saysBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Churches that go through the intentional interim ministry process show lasting benefits, recent research has demonstrated.
The Center for Congregational Health examined churches 24 to 36 months after they completed the intentional interim process, paying particular attention to how it affected each church’s new pastor.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Novel challenges readers to view gospel through the eyes of Judas
Posted: 4/13/07
Novel challenges readers to view
gospel through the eyes of JudasBy Francis X. Rocca
Religion News Service
ROME (RNS)—A new book by a colorful British author and an Australian New Testament scholar offers a sympathetic portrayal of Judas as the unwitting betrayer of Christ.
The Gospel According to Judas, by Benjamin Iscariot, published simultaneously in eight languages, is a work of fiction presented in the form of Scripture, complete with numbered verses, pages in gold trim and key passages highlighted in red ink.
Jeffrey Archer is co-author of The Gospel According to Judas. (RNS/courtesy Goldberg McDuffie Communications) 04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Missional leaders needed for churches
Posted: 4/13/07
Missional leaders needed for churches
By Barbara Bedrick
Texas Baptist Communications
DALLAS—Vitality of churches in the 21st century depends largely on pioneering and missional leaders, according to Reggie Thomas, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas congregational leadership team.
Reggie Thomas, director of the BGCT congregational leadership team, points out the seven characteristics of creative church leaders in a recent workshop with ministers and church leaders. Drawing from Reggie McNeal’s book, A Work of Heart, Thomas encourages pastors and other church leaders to take seriously and personally the great commission as marching orders for the church. Thomas also stresses leaders be kingdom-conscious, seek to discover where God is at work and join him there.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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The church in parenthesis
Posted: 4/13/07
The church in parenthesis
By Ken Camp
Managing Editor
When pastors leave congregations, their former churches often face what could be termed a punctuation crisis.
Some mark the departure with a period, as the end of a sentence—either for the minister or the congregation. Others approach it with a question mark, asking: “Where do we go from here?” But others see it as a parenthesis in their church’s history—an in-between time when the church can regroup, refocus and retool for its future.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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San Angelo bus ministry takes gospel to travelers
Posted: 4/13/07
San Angelo bus ministry
takes gospel to travelersSAN ANGELO—At First Baptist Church in San Angelo, bus ministry doesn’t mean transporting people to church. It means taking a message of God’s love to people who may never pass their way again.
Volunteers from the church minister at the San Angelo Bus Center, board buses to deliver brown paper sacks filled with bottled water, snack crackers, a can of Vienna sausages, a small plastic container of chocolate pudding and tracts in English and Spanish.
Paul Mansfield boards a bus in San Angelo to offer a gift on behalf of Jesus Christ to each passenger. (Photo/Jennifer Wright) A “love note” is stapled to each bag. One side says: “This is our simple way of saying that God loves you. Let us know if we can be of more assistance.” The other side of the card contains contact information for First Baptist Church.
The bus center ministry began one year ago. Ten buses pass through San Angelo’s bus station every 24 hours—some in the middle of the night.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Tidbits
Posted: 4/13/07
Texas Tidbits
Buckner honors contributors.
Buckner International honored top contributors at its annual Founder’s Day event April 13. R.C. Buckner Founder’s Award recipients include Ruth and Don Buchholz of Dallas as philanthropists of the year and North Park Baptist Church in Abilene for dedicated church service. A donation by the Buchholz family, members of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, made possible construction of the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid. The center, in east Dallas, will serve as the international receiving, processing and sending point for shoes collected through the Shoes for Orphan Souls drive, medicines, food, clothing and other humanitarian aid to orphans and at-risk children and families. North Park Baptist Church was recognized for its collaboration with Buckner to benefit the Buckner Children’s Home in Lubbock and the Bruce Ford Community Center in Amarillo. Pastor Louis Johnson also also traveled with church members to Guatemalan and Peruvian orphanages, ministering to orphan children through Buckner. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company also was honored for support of Buckner Children and Family Services of Southeast Texas.
HBU applies to rejoin NCAA.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Moving forward in a time of transition
Posted: 4/13/07
TOGETHER:
Moving forward in a time of transitionApril 11, I announced to the Executive Board and to our staff that it is my intention to retire at the end of January 2008. There are several things I will continue to work on as we bring our eight years in this role to a close.
First, I will work to imbed in our organizational culture the gains we have made in serving churches and connecting them to a kingdom-sized vision.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
Second, I will work with our Baptist institutions and Baptist Student Ministries that are dealing with particular challenges.
Third, I will work to encourage a productive Missions Exchange meeting later this month to help Texas Baptists craft a strategic and collaborative approach to missions.
04/13/2007 - By John Rutledge
