2008 Archives
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Evangelism requires commitmentâeven if it means holding church under a tree
Posted: 1/30/08
Youth who have never fit in at church are drawn to Ron Evans' Church Under a Tree in a Plano park. Evangelism requires commitment–
even if it means holding church under a treeBy Loni Fancher
Texas Baptist Communications
ROCKWALL—Commitment is the key to a fruitful ministry, said Ron Evans. He should know. He’s persistently followed God’s calling to break through barriers and reach a group of disenfranchised young people as pastor of Plano’s Church Under the Tree.
During Super Summer in 2006, the youth pastor of Brown Street Baptist Fellowship in Wylie felt God calling him to reach out to unchurched and disenfranchised youth.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Faith Digest
Posted: 1/30/08
Faith Digest
Catholic Charities study links poverty and racism. Poverty and race remain integrally linked in the United States, and continuing racism contributes to that linkage, according to a recently released study by Catholic Charities. The study cites evidence the poverty rate for African- Americans in the U.S. is 24 percent—three times the rate for whites. Latinos and Native Americans also suffer from poverty rates above 20 percent. On average, white families are 10 times richer than minority families, the study says. And while white families’ wealth grew 20 percent between 1998 and 2001, the net worth of African-American households decreased during that period. At the same time, “the ghosts of our legacy of racial inequality continue to haunt us,” the study says, citing racial violence as well as discrimination in housing and health care. The study, “Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good,” is part of Catholic Charities’ campaign to cut the U.S. poverty rate in half by 2020.
Creationists launch online journal. Answers in Genesis, the Christian ministry that founded the $27 million Creation Museum in Kentucky last year, has launched an online technical journal to publish studies consistent with its biblical views. The Answers Research Journal will disseminate research conducted by creationist theologians and scientists who follow a literal reading of the Creation account in Genesis. Ken Hamm, president of Answers in Genesis, said submissions will be peer-reviewed, but the journal’s guidelines discourage asking non-creationists to conduct those reviews. The journal is needed because of academic bias in most scientific journals against creationists, Hamm said.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Holy Land church leaders appeal for Gaza
Posted: 1/30/08
Sheikh Raed Salah (center), head of the Islamic Movement in northern Israel, prays during a protest against Israel's blockade of Gaza, at the Erez crossing just outside the northern Gaza Strip. Israel recently resumed fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip's main power plant, offering limited respite from a blockade that plunged much of the Hamas-ruled territory into darkness and touched off international protests. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad) Holy Land church leaders appeal for Gaza
By Michele Chabin
Religion News Service
JERUSALEM (RNS)—Christian leaders from the Holy Land are demanding that Israel, President Bush and the world community “put an end to this suffering” of Gaza residents caught in the crossfire between Israel and the Hamas militants who rule the Gaza Strip.
“There is no time to waste when human life is endangered,” said the heads of the churches in Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Some worry Habitat dispute might stall Katrina recovery
Posted: 1/30/08
Some worry Habitat dispute
might stall Katrina recoveryBy Bruce Nolan
Religion News Service
NEW ORLEANS (RNS)—A months-long effort by Habitat for Humanity International to retool relations with its 1,600 local affiliates has raised concerns in Habitat’s operation in southern Louisiana, where volunteers have built more than 100 low-cost replacement homes since Hurricane Katrina.
The dispute recently surfaced when the San Antonio affiliate—the oldest in a far-flung Habitat organization—charged in federal court that Habitat for Humanity International sought to impose unprecedented controls on the local organizations.
Texan Alison Cagle from Clayborne hammers a nail while working at a Habitat for Humanity site in New Orleans in this 2006 file photo. Some participants in the rebuilding effort in southern Louisiana fear Habitat International’s dispute with its domestic affiliates could derail the ongoing Katrina rebuilding effort. 01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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HBU breaks ground for academic center
Posted: 1/29/08
HBU breaks ground
for academic centerHouston Baptist University recently broke ground for its university academic center. The center will house the art department, the communications department and the HBU Honors College. The student newspaper, The Collegian, and the mock trial team will be headquartered in the new facility. Pictured are (left to right) Dan Woo, president of Mission Constructors; Trustee Jack Carlson; Vice President Emeritus Don Looser; HBU President Robert Sloan; John Rhebergen, vice president of Gossen Livingston Associates and project architect; Brad Durkin of Churchworx; HBU trustee board Chairman Rick Bailey; and Trustee David Stutts.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Providential communication failure led student to DBU and faith in Christ
Posted: 1/30/08
Mamo Ishida, acting director of the master of education in higher education program at Dallas Baptist University, visits with international students at the North Texas school. He served several years as assistant director of the international students program, and next fall he will head the school’s new program in East Asian studies. Providential communication failure
led student to DBU and faith in ChristBy George Henson
Staff Writer
DALLAS—God must have a sense of humor.
Mamo Ishida believes God used his desire to stay away from a Christian university to bring him to Dallas Baptist University—because he “didn’t know what ‘Baptist’ meant.” More importantly, Ishida found a saving faith in Jesus Christ that he now shares with other students from around the world.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Baptist Forum
Posted: 1/30/08
Texas Baptist Forum
Applause & ‘amen’
Applause has become the modern equivalent of “amen” (Jan. 7). Surely any spontaneous show of appreciation in praise of the Lord and/or his handiwork would be a welcome “noise” to God.
• Jump to online-only letters below Letters are welcomed. Send them to marvknox@baptiststandard.com; 250 words maximum.
“Ultimately, it is Muslims who must excise the scourge of radicalism from Islam. From within. We can help by behaving like the generous, just and benevolent society moderate Muslims once considered us to be.”
Oliver “Buzz” Thomas
Minister and lawyer, commenting on hopes for bridging religious divides (USA Today/RNS)“I’m going to stick to the things that make it critical for me to be president of the United States. I have deep convictions about who goes (to heaven) and who doesn’t, but as far as who makes that decision, it isn’t me; it’s God. I’m going to leave that up to him.”
Mike Huckabee
Presidential candidate, deflecting reporters’ questions about whether non-Christians can enter heaven (Associated Press/RNS)“I ask in the name of Jesus Christ that my sins are forgiven, that my family is protected and that I am an instrument of God’s will. I’m constantly trying to align myself to what I think he calls on me to do. And sometimes you hear it strongly and sometimes that voice is more muted.”
Barack Obama
Responding to a Beliefnet interview question about how he prays (RNS)“We have been conducting doctrinal frisks and theological GI-tract exams of our candidates, and we have to remember that these candidates are not running for president of the seminary, and they're not running for pastor-in-chief. They're running to be commander in chief at a time of global war on terrorism.”
Ralph Reed
GOP strategist and former Christian Coalition leader (RNS)Whether I choose to utter “amen,” applaud or offer a glowing smile in appreciation of praiseworthy efforts seems to miss the point in the worship experience, as God and worship touch each of us so personally and individually.
Perhaps I’m missing Richard Berry’s point (Jan. 7), but, for one, I’ll continue to worship where I feel my spirit is unfettered by extraneous “rules” or processes.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Thanks to God; prayer for blessing
Posted: 1/30/08
TOGETHER:
Thanks to God; prayer for blessingAs I write this last column, the names and faces of so many of you come to my mind. I cherish the times of worship I have shared in our churches and the strong ministries and testimonies the churches have in our Texas cities and communities.
I want to thank my family—Rosemary, our four children, their four spouses and our 10 grandchildren—for their loving encouragement. Rosemary has loved her opportunities to encourage pastors’ wives across Texas. Her love for them and her ability to help them laugh and rejoice in their calling always amazes me. She is a gracious gift from God to me.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
I always will be thankful for the encouragement and wise counsel of my predecessor, William Pinson, as he has responded to my questions and requests. His continued involvement in the work of communicating our Texas Baptist heritage is an important service he continues to give to us.
Three wonderful women served with me as executive administrative assistants; Doris Tinker, Janice Coley and Myla McClinton each served with distinction. Doris continues to work with Dr. Pinson, Janice served faithfully until her health forced her to retire, and Myla, with her smile, loving spirit and tenacious attention to her assignments, has generated great appreciation and respect from all who seek help from my office.
01/30/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Teenager at South Texas Childrenâs Home dies
Posted: 1/29/08
Teenager at South Texas Children’s Home dies
By Vicki Hewitt
South Texas Children’s Home
BEEVILLE—J.D. Gomez, a 17-year-old boy in the care of South Texas Children’s Home, died Jan. 25.
Gomez was discovered unconscious in the shower and did not respond to CPR administered by several staff members at the children’s home. The sheriff’s department and emergency medical service personnel arrived quickly, but Gomez did not regain consciousness.
01/29/2008 - By John Rutledge
