Archives
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Alaskan church’s hunger ministry gleans roadkill remains
Posted: 10/14/05
Paul Harrell leads a team that field dresses roadkill for a hunger ministry sponsored by Friendship Baptist Mission in Fairbanks, Alaska. Alaskan church's hunger
ministry gleans roadkill remainsBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
FAIRBANKS, Alaska–Most people don't associate the words “roadkill” and “delicacy.” But in Alaska, roadside remains are moose, not possum or armadillo.
10/14/2005 - By John Rutledge
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2nd Opinion: ‘One Family–One Mission’ in Austin
Posted: 10/14/05
2nd Opinion:
'One Family–One Mission' in AustinBy Albert Reyes
Serving as president of the Baptist General Convention this past year has been one of the greatest blessings and privileges of my life. I have learned that our Texas Baptist family is on mission all across our state, nation and world. Our 5,700 congregations, 23 institutions and BGCT Executive Board staff represent a powerful force for the gospel, for social justice and kingdom advancement, especially among the under-represented and the poor of our state. We have seen how Texas Baptists were mobilized to work together during the twin-sister hurricanes that hit the Texas and Louisiana shores.
Working with Charles Wade, our executive director, has been a wonderful experience. I have enjoyed working with him through governance and reorganization. He has done a fantastic job leading our Texas Baptist family. Marv Knox has covered this year's news with excellence. His prophetic voice and visionary leadership as a statesmen and editor have kept our focus on the news and the issues that make a difference in our work. I want to personally thank Marv for his friendship and for his ministry to us and for us. Vice presidents Michael Bell and Stacy Conner have been wonderful teammates this year.
10/14/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Tidbits
Posted: 10/14/05
Texas Tidbits
Baylor Medical receives Consumer Choice Award. National Research Corporation has named Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas a Consumer Choice Award winner for the 10th consecutive year. In compiling its health care marketing guide, the firm surveyed more than 200,000 households inquiring which hospitals have the highest quality and image in 180 markets throughout the U.S.
Funds needed to aid hunger relief intern. Lena Yual, a native of Papua New Guinea, has been awarded an internship at the World Hunger Relief Farm north of Waco, but she has not been able to raise airfare needed to travel to the United States. Normally that cost is the responsibility of the intern, but due to Yual's subsistence background in an impoverished country, this is deemed a special circumstance. She will learn farming techniques to be used to share with the physically and spiritually hungry of the world. For more information, call (254) 799-5611.
Missions foundation to honor four. The Texas Baptist Missions Foundation will honor philanthropists Paul and Shirley Piper of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; retired Woman's Missionary Union of Texas Executive Director Joy Fenner of Garland; and Camille Simmons of San Antonio Baptist Association during a luncheon Nov. 14 during the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting at the Austin Convention Center. Tickets are $20 each. Checks can be made payable to Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, designated "luncheon" and sent to 333 N. Washington Ave., Dallas 75246. For more information, call the foundation at (800) 558-8263.
10/14/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Experience the great grace of giving
Posted: 10/14/05
TOGETHER:
Experience the great grace of givingThe Baptist General Convention of Texas has identified 289 Texas Baptist churches that endured the destructive sweep of Hurricane Rita through Southeast and East Texas. Our staff has been working with the directors of missions who serve the seven associations in this area, and they have made contact with 176 of the 289 churches. They have made your relief dollars available for the pastors, churches, members and others to whom the churches are ministering.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
On the Friday after Rita struck, I was in Beaumont, Vidor and Orange surveying the damage and visiting with pastors and lay leaders. I was able to tell the 25 men and women gathered at the office building of First Baptist Church in Vidor that because of Texas Baptists' faithfulness in giving, we would be able to send them funds immediately to help in their efforts to coordinate an effective response to the needs of their communities.
I was blessed by the leadership of Terry Wright, pastor of First Vidor and moderator of Golden Triangle Baptist Association, as he pulled the group together, laid out a plan for relief and rebuilding, and called all of us to trust in God and do the work God has given us to do. He understood that what the churches and their leaders do during crises like this opens doors of spiritual opportunity in people's lives that almost nothing else can match.
10/14/2005 - By John Rutledge
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Cyber Column by John Duncan: The Light of the world
Posted: 10/14/05
CYBER COLUMN:
The Light of the worldBy John Duncan
I am sitting here under the old oak tree pondering light. Yesterday the sun like an orange basketball greeted the crisp October morning with light. Last night the stars filled the sky with twinkling dots of light against a dark blue backdrop. Then, of all things, I walked into my dark house and reached for the switch on the wall and flipped it and then, presto, a light bulb flashed like a camera flash and burnt. Thankfully several more light bulbs helped me find my way around the house. Light illumines.
John Duncan I love this time of year because the rotation of the earth on its axis makes the nights longer and the cold waves of arctic air march south and the nights sparkle with the stars and the moon and the constellations dance in the heavenlies. In the second century the ancient Ptolemies compiled star catalogues detailing the brilliance of the stars in their movement and position. I am not sure if it’s true but supposedly Julius Caesar once declared that he was as constant as the northern star. Scientists discovered last year that the star Polaris is increasing in light by 250 percent. One scientist said that such an increasing brightness should not be happening, adding, “It’s kinda scary.” Light intrigues.
10/14/2005 - By John Rutledge
