Flip-flops provide perfect fit for foreign AIDS orphans

Posted: 7/21/06

Flip-flops provide perfect
fit for foreign AIDS orphans

By George Henson

Staff Writer

WICHITA FALLS—Flip-flop sandals may be inexpensive, but First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls is using them to teach children a valuable lesson—you’re never too young to take part in missions.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

DeFoores long way from Abilene as ‘Texas Envoys’ to Afghanistan

Posted: 7/21/06

Texas Envoys find purpose in Afghan hospital

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

KABUL, Afghanistan—God gave Rick DeFoore what he prayed for, even if he didn’t fully understand what he was requesting.

DeFoore confesses he was “stuck” in a routine in Abilene and couldn’t escape—the same thing week after week.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Churches must be ‘irresistible influence’ in community

Posted: 7/21/06

Churches must be ‘irresistible
influence’ in community

By Laura Frase

Communications Intern

LUBBOCK—When Gerald Davis urges, “Just do it,” he isn’t referring to star athletes. He’s talking to pastors and ministers, telling them to get pumped up about uniting their church and their community.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

On your mark, get set: ‘Run & tell’

Posted: 7/21/06

On your mark, get set: ‘Run & tell’

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

LUBBOCK—When Jesus changes people’s lives, they must “run and tell” their good news to everyone they meet, Denny Davis, pastor of St. John Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, told participants in the African American Fellowship of Texas annual meeting.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

To see the face of AIDS in Africa, take a look at Susan

Posted: 7/21/06

To see the face of AIDS
in Africa, take a look at Susan

By Scott Collins

Buckner Benevolences

NAIROBI, Kenya—A Swahili Bible rested gently on Susan’s legs, a pencil in the crevice of the open book. Her left hand thumbed through the pages until it came to rest on Isaiah 40, her favorite passage.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength,” she softly read aloud. “They will soar on wings like eagles.”

Slowly, she lifted her head and through sad but hopeful eyes told why she likes those verses: “I know that when I am weak, I will be lifted up. I will mount up like eagles.”

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

African leaders look to Buckner as ally in war on AIDS

Posted: 7/21/06

African leaders look to
Buckner as ally in war on AIDS

By Scott Collins

Buckner Benevolences

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia—Religious and government officials in four African nations welcomed staff and trustees from Buckner Benevolences and Buckner Orphan Care International.

The “vision tour” group led by Buckner President Ken Hall met with leading government officials during stops in Nigeria and Ethiopia. They asked the Dallas-based organization to help with the growing problems related to orphans throughout Sub-Sahara Africa brought on by the AIDS epidemic.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Students’ All-State music echoes through 3 decades

Posted: 7/21/06

Students’ All-State music echoes through 3 decades

By Laura Frase

Communications Intern

Past and present members of the Texas Baptist All-State Choir and Band recently united in one key—their everlasting love for music and God.

The choir and band represent the best of the best among Texas Baptist student musicians. Audition tapes arrived from more than 80 churches this year, with only 136 students chosen to represent the prestigious group.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Around the State

Posted: 7/21/06

Around the State

• Howard Payne University has inducted eight members into the Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society in Business Management and Administration. Inductees in-clude Heather Fisher, Charis House, Michael Lindsay, Jill McLaughlin, Leah Perez, Joseph Renner, Diann Seamans and Rachel Welch.

• Houston Baptist University has announced its Piper Professor nominees for this year. Nominees are Eloise Hughes, professor in education and director of field experience and student teaching; Levon Hayrapetyan, professor in computer information systems management; Vanora Hundley, associate professor in nursing; Susan Cook, professor in biology and director of the health professions program; and Connie Michalos, professor in English. The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation presents 15 awards annually to professors across the state for their dedication to the teaching profession and their academic, scientific and scholarly achievement.

• Carol Holcomb, associate professor of religion at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, has been re-elected president of the Baptist History and Heritage Society.

• Dan MacMillan, president of Bluefield College in Virginia, will join the Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University as director of the doctoral program in higher education leadership next month.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Technician’s speed spares Baptist Memorials resident

Posted: 7/21/06

Technician’s speed spares
Baptist Memorials resident

SAN ANGELO—Certified pharmacy technician Stacey Walden recently helped rescue a resident at Baptist Memorials Center.

Walden, an Angelo State University student, had offered to show the resident how to use a special medical device and made an appointment for the afternoon. When the resident did not answer the door, Walden went back to work but still telephoned with no success.

After an hour, Walden went back to the house for another try. Finding the doors locked, Walden looked through the window and noticed the resident lying on the floor.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Book Reviews

Posted: 7/21/06

Book Reviews

Syzygy: Living a Powerfully Aligned Life by Johnnie C. Godwin (Chalice Press)

In Syzygy: Living a Powerfully Aligned Life, Johnnie Godwin introduced to me a new word for an age-old concept. I found “syzygy” to be a funny new word that reminded me of the importance of proper alignment and balance in my relationships. The root of this old Greek word means to be “yoked” together, which explains the power behind the synergy that so many individuals, companies and churches long for.

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

Godwin shares his personal journey toward discovering syzygy in his life at home, at church and at work. His practical insights reinforce the importance of us working together with each other and especially with the Lord. Life takes on new meaning and effectiveness when we take up the “yoke” of Christ.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Baptist Briefs

Posted: 7/21/06

Baptist Briefs

Graham’s final sermon? Billy Graham acknowledged his appearance at his son’s July 9 crusade could be “the last time I’ll have an opportunity to preach the gospel to an audience like this,” Religion News Service reported. At age 87, the evangelist gave the closing sermon of the three-day Metro Maryland Festival headlined by his son, Franklin Graham, and organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “Unfortunately, I’m getting too old to do this,” he said. He made a similar statement about his preaching at an appearance with his son in New Orleans in March, saying, “This is probably the last evangelistic sermon I’ll ever preach.”

Warren headed to North Korea. Government officials have invited best-selling author and Baptist pastor Rick Warren to preach to at least 15,000 people in North Korea sometime next summer, a spokesperson from Warren’s Saddleback Church confirmed. Warren acknowledged his trip could be used by the Korean government—notorious for religious persecution—as propaganda or further persecution, but he said it is worth the risks. “I know they’re going to use me, so I’m going to use them,” he told reporters.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge

Burgi home bubbles with boys after 1st BCFS adoption

Posted: 7/21/06

Burgi home bubbles with boys
after 1st BCFS adoption

By Craig Bird

Baptist Child & Family Services

DEL RIO—Reply quickly if 6-year-old Robert Burgi asks, “What’s your name?” He’s in a rush to say: “I’m Robert Alesandro Burgi. And my name just changed.”

But the name change isn’t as striking as the change in his life. In fact, the lives of the whole Burgi family—now home to six boys—changed because of Baptist Child & Family Services’ newly licensed adoption program.

07/21/2006 - By John Rutledge