DALLAS—Everything changed on 9/11—at least for American Muslims. But whether the change has been for the better or the worse depends on personal perspective and individual experience.

Waco’s Muslim community meets in a nondescript building behind an auto repair shop and a convenience store. The Islamic house of prayer—about 25 miles from President Bush’s Crawford ranch—shares a parking lot with a small Primitive Baptist church. No outside sign identifies the place of worship, but its identity is no secret, said Al Siddiq, president of the Islamic Center of Waco.

Five years after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center towers in New York, Muslims in the United States assess changes in their relationships with American Christians. This file photo shows rescue workers cutting through steel beams lodged in the ruins of the World Trade Center. (BP File photo by Jim Veneman) 9/11 Five Years Later • For American Muslims, everything changed on 9/11 • Differentiate 'Muslim' from 'terrorist' scholars say • No sweeping revival, but impact of 9/11 still felt in churches • Negative perceptions of Muslims persist, panel says • Who's Who in Islam: major groups • Christian presence in Holy Land small and getting smaller • Islam built on five pillars of worship & five pillars of faith • Poll shows some prejudice against Muslims • Children of Abraham: Muslims view God, church & state through different lenses

09/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

“Most American Muslims are not sympathetic to radical Islam, and they are not interested in being identified with the extremists. They just want to be able to do their jobs, raise their children and be good neighbors,” said Ron Smith, senior professor of theology at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology.

09/17/2006 - By John Rutledge

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States didn’t produce the widespread revival some Christian leaders predicted, but commentators believe the events of that day continue to affect church ministry.

Five years after the attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., the spike in worship attendance that occurred after Sept. 11 appears to be an anomaly. Within a month of the attacks, worship attendance had returned to pre-Sept. 11 levels in most places as people returned to their respective routines.

World Trade Center towers collapsing in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. (Reuters Photo) • Read the Standard's coverage in our Sept. 17, 2001, issue of Baptist response to the crisis.

09/15/2006 - By John Rutledge

SALT LAKE CITY (ABP)—Days before the five-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a panel of Muslims discussed media-perpetrated misperceptions of Islam and a “climate of negativity” in the United States—particularly concerning the war on terror.

Laila Al-Marayati, an activist with the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said civil liberties ranks as one of the most important topics for Muslims. Non-Muslims not only accept that Muslims will bear the brunt of civil liberty violations, but also expect Muslims to accept it as the price to pay for living in America

09/15/2006 - By John Rutledge

DALLAS—Charles Higgs, founding pastor of Cowboy Church of Erath County, has been named director of Baptist General Convention of Texas western-heritage ministries.

He will begin serving on a part-time basis Sept. 15 and become a full-time BGCT employee June 1, 2007. Higgs follows Ron Nolen, who recently retired to become coordinator of the Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches. The fellowship works closely with the BGCT director of western-heritage ministries.

09/15/2006 - By John Rutledge

• James King Jr., dean of the College of Business at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, will be the guest speaker at the fall convocation service Sept. 22 at 11 a.m.

• The Howard Payne University Yellow Jacket Band will be celebrating their 100th anniversary during the school’s homecoming activities Oct. 6-7. Friday, the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma fraternities will host a memorial ceremony in the Davidson Music Complex. Also, former band members are invited to perform with current band students at the 10 p.m. pep rally. A continental breakfast honoring the band will be held Saturday at 7 a.m. The homecoming parade will follow at 10 a.m. Former Band Director Greg Barry will be the parade grand marshal. Alumni band members also are invited to play in the finale of the homecoming football game’s halftime show. The game begins at 2 p.m. The centennial band banquet will be at 7 p.m. For more information, call (800) 950-8465.

• Mark Warren has been named director of institutional research and effectiveness at East Texas Baptist University.

• Leigh Jackson has been endorsed as a chaplain with Seton Healthcare Network in Austin by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

09/15/2006 - By John Rutledge

A Touch of Jesus: Stories and Studies of Women in the Life of Jesus by Janet F. Burton (Pleasant Word)

Many authors believe historical fiction to be the most difficult of stories to pen. The writer must mesh character, plot and setting with historically accurate research involving names, clothing, vocabulary, events and physical location. In A Touch of Jesus, Texas pastor’s wife Janet Burton not only tackles historical fiction, she adds a theological dimension by imagining and filling in the blanks in the stories of biblical women touched by Jesus.

From Mary’s cousin Elisabeth, to sisters Mary and Martha and the mothers of the little children blessed by Jesus, to the widow who gave her mites, Burton paints word pictures of significant incidents in their lives.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

But she doesn’t leave the reader there. She offers a behind-the-scenes Bible study surrounding the incident and includes insights gained from her research. Then she adds touch points showing how Christians can reach others in similar circumstances with the touch of Jesus.

09/15/2006 - By John Rutledge

Association breaks with church over homosexuality. The North Area Baptist Association, a 10-county group of Baptist congregations belonging to the American Baptist Churches-USA, voted 18-3 to break ties with Woodside Church in Flint, Mich., because of its acceptance of homosexuals. Woodside Church decided in May to join the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, a pro-gay organization with 55 member congregations nationwide.

CBF-affiliated program receives federal grant. Sowing Seeds of Hope, a community and economic development organization affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, has received a $338,000 federal grant for the creation of a self-help housing initiative in depressed Perry County, Ala. The grant will be used to administer loans to low-income families, who will build their own homes. It will fund four employees and a portion of the salary for executive director Frances Ford. Applicants to the program must still qualify for a loan, which comes in addition to the grant. More than 140 applications from local residents already have gained acceptance to the program. Planners expect to build 20 custom-designed homes within two years.

09/15/2006 - By John Rutledge