Katrina giving did not hurt other charities, group says

Posted: 9/05/06

Katrina giving did not hurt
other charities, group says

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

NEW ORLEANS (ABP)—Despite expectations to the contrary, donations to many charities not related to Hurricane Katrina held steady or increased last year, according to reports from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit watchdog group that monitors the financial health of charities.

The most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history, Katrina caused roughly $75 billion in damage since it hit land Aug. 29, 2005. One year later, nonprofit leaders and watchdog groups are evaluating how much money was given to Katrina relief, what it was used for, and how that giving affected other charities.

09/05/2006 - By John Rutledge

Inexperience hurt effectiveness of some Katrina relief groups

Posted: 9/05/06

Inexperience hurt effectiveness
of some Katrina relief groups

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

NEW ORLEANS (ABP)—Although Hurricane Katrina inspired an unprecedented relief response, some of the groups who answered the call were inexperienced and ineffective, a charity watchdog group has concluded.

The deluge of new and inexperienced charities that responded to Katrina complicated the relief picture, said Sandra Miniutti, director of external relations for the New Jersey-based Charity Navigator.

09/05/2006 - By John Rutledge

Teens from FBC Wolfforth help Buckner get facilities back to normal

Posted: 9/05/06

FBC Wolfforth volunteers help
Buckner get facilities back to normal

By Jenny Pope

Buckner Benevolences

BEAUMONT—When Hurricane Rita threatened to strike the Gulf coast Sept. 21, 2005, more than 60 residents of Buckner Children’s Village and Calder Woods, a Buckner retirement community, evacuated together in a two-week, statewide shuffle from one location to the next.

And though most of the physical damage from the storm—broken fences, downed trees, water-logged carpets and sidewalks—have since been repaired, the two communities continue to mend the emotional damage one year later.

09/05/2006 - By John Rutledge

BaptistWay Bible Series for September 10: God is open to hearing our questions

Posted: 9/02/06

BaptistWay Bible Series for September 10

God is open to hearing our questions

• Psalms 3, 13, 22

By David Wilkinson

09/02/2006 - By John Rutledge

Bible Studies for Life Series for September 10: The victories God provides are worth remembering

Posted: 9/02/06

Bible Studies for Life Series for September 10

The victories God provides are worth remembering

• Joshua 4:1-3,8,10-11,17-24

By Kenneth Lyle

09/02/2006 - By John Rutledge

RIGHT or WRONG? Am I prejudiced?

Posted: 9/01/06

RIGHT or WRONG?
Am I prejudiced?

My church is mostly white, but a few people of darker complexion have begun to visit a little, since the neighborhood around us is changing. I sometimes say that I really am not prejudiced toward other groups. But I find myself struggling a bit as to whether I should or could address this dynamic we are facing.

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge

Loan Corporation cuts interest rates

Posted: 9/01/06

Loan Corporation cuts interest rates

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—The Baptist Church Loan Corporation recently voted to reduce its interest rates for new and existing loans by three-fourths of a percent, the largest drop and lowest rate in the corporation’s history.

During its recent meeting, the corporation’s board of directors lowered interest rates by three-fourths of a percent to 1 percent below prime—the base rate at least 75 percent of the nation’s 30 largest banks offer on corporate loans.

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge

Cartoonist brings Christian faith to the funny papers

Posted: 9/01/06

Cartoonist brings Christian
faith to the funny papers

By Hannah Elliott

Associated Baptist Press

DALLAS (ABP)—Christian cartoons are nothing new. They’re everywhere from gospel tracts to Christian magazines and newsletters. But a Christian cartoon as a nationally syndicated feature in secular newspapers? That’s almost unprecedented.

Although cartoonist Kevin Frank’s strip involves Christian characters working in a place called Heaven’s Love Thrift Shop, he doesn’t consider the strip to be Christian.

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge

New DBU students become oriented to community service

Posted: 9/01/06

New DBU students become
oriented to community service

By Tim Gingrich

Dallas Baptist University

DALLAS—About 500 Dallas Baptist University students served at 12 locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area—building a home for a Hurricane Katrina evacuee family, packing shoes for overseas orphans and meeting other needs—during the school’s orientation week.

It marked the 19th year DBU has included community service projects as part of its orientation week for new students. Volunteers included both incoming freshmen and their orientation leaders.

DBU Freshman Kendra Roberts puts the finishing touches on a Habitat home in Dallas. (Photo by Chris Hendricks)

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge

BGCT trailer benefits cowboy churches

Posted: 9/01/06

BGCT trailer benefits cowboy churches

By George Henson

Staff Writer

HILLSBORO—Tapping feet and gently clapping hands accompanied the guitar pickers leading music on a blistering hot white-rock parking lot. About 30 hardy souls braved triple-digit temperatures to help launch a western heritage church in rural Hill County.

But they found relief from the scorching Texas sun, thanks to the awning on the Baptist Ge-neral Convention of Texas’ cowboy church truck and trailer.

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge

Missions takes hit in proposed 2007 BGCT budget

Posted: 9/01/06

Missions takes hit in proposed 2007 BGCT budget

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS—The proposed $50.6 million budget the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board will consider at its Sept. 25-26 meeting cuts $700,000 from the missions, evangelism and ministry area.

The recommended 2007 budget eliminates three positions. If the proposed budget is approved, staff whose positions will be cut effective Dec. 31 are Missional Church Director Milfred Minatrea, who has served with the BGCT since 1995; Community Missions Director Jim Young, who joined the BGCT staff in 1999; and Tommy Goode, a specialist with the BGCT City Core Initiative, an urban missions strategy launched in 2003.

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge

‘Home Sweet Home Alabama,’ thanks to relief groups

Posted: 9/01/06

‘Home Sweet Home Alabama,’
thanks to relief groups

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (ABP)—Hurricane Katrina was the first in an interconnected series of tragedies that left Amy Walker feeling helpless and lost.

But like the part of Alabama where she lives, her life is being rebuilt, thanks to coordination between relief organizations, Baptist and other church volunteers, and government agencies.

09/01/2006 - By John Rutledge