2008 Archives - Page 53 of 56

In the shadows, slavery remains

Posted: 1/11/08

In the shadows, slavery remains

Editor's note: Jan. 11 is the national day of awareness of human trafficking.

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

COLLEYVILLE—Given Kachepa’s father died when he was seven. He lost his mother when he was nine. He ended up living with 15 relatives in a two-room hut without electricity or running water.

So, when a Baptist missionary offered to make Kachepa part of a Zambian boys’ choir that would sing in United States churches to raise money to build schools in his hometown and support his family, he jumped at the opportunity.

Given Kachepa

01/11/2008 - By John Rutledge

BaptistWay Bible Series for January 20: Not an easy way

Posted: 1/11/07

BaptistWay Bible Series for January 20

Not an easy way

• Mark 8:27-38

By Andrew Daugherty

01/11/2008 - By John Rutledge

Single mother finds stability & purpose thanks to Gracewood

Posted: 1/11/08

Claudia Cardenas speaks at the groundbreaking for a new Gracewood facility in Houston. (Photos courtesy of Children at Heart Ministries)

Single mother finds stability
& purpose thanks to Gracewood

By Bill Martin

Children At Heart Ministries

HOUSTON—Standing at a microphone under a spreading oak tree in a northwest Houston neighborhood, Claudia Cardenas told a crowd of strangers about her transformation—with God’s help—from “couch surfer” to motivated single mother.

As she talked, observers noted God’s hand in her journey from foster child to homeless mother to a success story in the making.

01/11/2008 - By John Rutledge

Mentors provide hope for at-risk elementary school students

Posted: 1/11/08

Mentors provide hope for
at-risk elementary school students

By Analiz González

Buckner International

DALLAS—Brad Schwall is a celebrity at Dan D. Rogers Elementary School—at least among the students.

Schwall, director of the Kids Hope USA collaboration between Park Cities Baptist Church and the Dallas elementary school, connects at-risk children with Park Cities mentors.

01/11/2008 - By John Rutledge

SBC surveying churches about Cooperative Program

Posted: 1/11/08

SBC surveying churches
about Cooperative Program

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Southern Baptist Convention is surveying its affiliated churches about the primary giving channel for the SBC and state conventions in an effort that could lead to changes in the way Southern Baptists support missions.

The survey asks church leaders about their thoughts on the Cooperative Program, how often they speak about it in their churches, their financial relationship with their state convention and what they think the Cooperative Program supports.

01/11/2008 - By John Rutledge

Displaced Kenyans in Uganda receive help from Baptist World Aid

Posted: 1/11/08

Displaced Kenyans in Uganda
receive help from Baptist World Aid

WASHINGTON (BWA)—Kenyans in Uganda who fled the rioting in their country have received assistance from Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance.

The aid from the international Baptist organization was granted after an appeal from Hillary Wafula, a Baptist pastor in the border town of Busia, Uganda, where 1,700 Kenyan refugees are housed in an elementary school.

Another 2,500 displaced Kenyans are in the Ugandan town of Malaba, which also borders Kenya, and an estimated 3,000 are in several villages bordering the two east African countries. Five thousand displaced people are on the Kenyan side of the town of Busia, “who can cross any time” into Uganda, Wafula said.

In his letter to Alex Wanyama, general secretary for the Baptist Union of Uganda, Wafula said, “One pastor who is hosting a number of Kenyans is overwhelmed by the number and the debts he is making to make them survive.”

01/11/2008 - By John Rutledge

Racetracks unite in push for slot machines

Posted: 1/10/08

Racetracks unite in push for slot machines

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

AUSTIN—Pari-mutuel racetrack owners have come together to make another push for being able to install slot machines at their sites.

Texans for Economic Development, which represents track owners, breeders and others in the racing industry has $1 million set aside for campaign contributions in the 2008 legislative races. Another $2 million is set aside for lobbying effort.

01/10/2008 - By John Rutledge

Bible Studies for Life Series for January 20: Breakthrough in justice

Posted: 1/10/08

Bible Studies for Life Series for January 20

Breakthrough in justice

• Psalm 7:1-17

By Steve Dominy

01/10/2008 - By John Rutledge

Explore the Bible Series for January 20: God wants us to value everyone

Posted:1/10/08

Explore the Bible Series for January 20

God wants us to value everyone

• Genesis 1:27, 9:6; Matthew 5:21-22, 22:36-40; Mark 10:46-52

By Donald Raney

First Baptist Church, Petersburg

Pick up a newspaper in any town on any given day and you almost certainly will find numerous stories dealing with the need for welfare reform or universal health care, instances of discrimination or hate crimes, and debates over abortion and the death penalty.

01/10/2008 - By John Rutledge

Christians in Kenya administer aid as unrest continues

Posted: 1/10/08

Christians in Kenya administer
aid as unrest continues

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (ABP)—Still-simmering violence sparked by disputed elections in Kenya continues to affect Baptist organizations and missionaries in the previously stable nation.

Gunfire erupted Jan. 7 in Limuru, a small town less than half a mile from Kenya Baptist Theological College. Several people were killed and almost 200 young men were arrested in the melee, according to Don Ashley, a professor of religion at Wayland Baptist University. The Texas-based university’s Kenya campus is housed at the theological school.

01/10/2008 - By John Rutledge

Wayland classes in Kenya will proceed as scheduled

Posted: 1/08/08

Wayland classes in Kenya
will proceed as scheduled

LIMURU, Kenya—In spite of reports of violence about two-thirds of a mile from Kenya Baptist Theological College, Wayland Baptist University will begins regularly scheduled classes there Jan. 14.

Gunfire erupted Jan. 7 in Limuru, Kenya, a small town approximately 1 kilometer from the campus. Don Ashley, associate professor of religion at Wayland, said several people were killed and almost 200 young men were arrested in the melee.

Ashley and his family traveled to Kenya prior to Christmas. He will teach in the upcoming term in Wayland’s Kenya program. While the violence has shaken his family, they are currently safe at the Kenya Baptist Theological College campus, he reported.

A major problem in recent days had been lack of supplies, but Ashley said supply lines have reopened, although it remains difficult to get food, water and fuel. While the campus has sufficient supplies, officials there have stopped accepting refugees for fear of running out.

01/08/2008 - By John Rutledge

Pinkston named Texas WMU interim director

Posted: 1/08/08

Pinkston named Texas WMU interim director

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—Nina Pinkston has been named interim executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas.

Texas WMU President Nelda Taylor said Pinkston was selected for the position because of her strong administrative skills, as well as her passion for mission work in Texas and around the globe.

01/08/2008 - By John Rutledge