Gypsy children receive more than education at Ruth School_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Gypsy children receive more than education at Ruth School

By Carla Wynn & Peter Junker

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

BUCHAREST, Romania –On any given freezing winter day in southern Bucharest, Romania, children gleefully bound around the Ruth School's playground. These Roma (Gypsy) children might come from difficult circumstances, but while they are at the Ruth School, they are happy.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

HBU, BGCT reach understanding; convention will reduce funding_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

HBU, BGCT reach understanding;
convention will reduce funding

HOUSTON–Houston Baptist University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas have agreed to a “memorandum of understanding” that maintains their long-standing relationship, but with reduced funding for the school.

The statement “clarifies the implications of the school's fraternal relationship with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention,” said Keith Bruce, the BGCT's coordinator of institutional ministries.

Prior to 2000, the BGCT selected the trustees for the 44-year-old university. But in May of that year, HBU trustees voted to create a self-perpetuating majority on their board.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Plainview layman establishes ministry to take a bite out of world hunger_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Plainview layman establishes ministry
to take a bite out of world hunger

By Zach Crook

Wayland Baptist Trail Blazer

Jesus' words recorded in Matthew 25 about ministry to “the least of these,” along with the heartfelt cry of a Mexican Indian woman, led J.B. Roberts of First Baptist Church in Plainview to create a hunger-fighting nonprofit organization.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Baptist volunteers spend Thanksgiving holiday serving Irving_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Baptist volunteers spend Thanksgiving holiday serving Irving

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

IRVING–For more than a decade, members of Oak View Baptist Church in Irving have spent Thanksgiving “Serving Irving.”

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Baptist Forum_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM

BGCT frustration

I walked away from the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in San Antonio very frustrated this year. We all know much has happened in our great state over the past few years, but the weight of these issues seemed to press heavily on me and many I spoke with during the convention. It seems as if the BGCT has become its own worst enemy.

I was frustrated because in a time when it would seem there is a great need to draw our Texas Baptist churches together in unity, the BGCT has chosen to further fan the flames of separation.

I was frustrated that the desire to further study the constitution changes was not heard by the leadership, who simply offered up the promise of future actions to get what they wanted passed that day. The voice of the churches will grow even weaker while the voice of the BGCT “powers that be” will be even louder.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Yarnell declines Louisiana College presidency_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Yarnell declines Louisiana College presidency

PINEVILLE, La. (ABP)–Almost two months to the day after Louisiana College trustees elected Texas educator Malcolm Yarnell as president of the school, he declined the position because of an ongoing controversy over governance and accreditation of the Baptist college.

“After accepting the presidency at Louisiana College, governance issues which would significantly impact my ability to lead the school were fully disclosed during the subsequent negotiations over the contract which the board of trustees desired,” Yarnell said in a Nov. 23 e-mail. Because of irreconcilable differences with trustees over those issues of governance, he said, he changed his mind about the presidency.

Yarnell will remain as an administrator and professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Mission Arlington volunteers serve 10,000 families_120604

Posted: 12/03/04 Mission Arlington volunteers serve 10,000 families (Top) Mission Arlington Director Tillie Burgin shows volunteers Bonnie Reilly and Jacob Fielder where to go for their assignment. Reiley and Fielder…

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Mobile medical clinic will meet healthcare needs in southern San Antonio_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Mobile medical clinic will meet
healthcare needs in southern San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO–Baptist Child & Family Services, in partnership with Baptist Hospital System's Southeast Baptist Hospital, has moved to meet an urgent need on San Antonio's South Side.

A $250,000 mobile medical clinic will take medical care to people in some of San Antonio's neediest communities early in January 2005. The 45-foot vehicle will make prenatal and postnatal care available to women and children in southeast Bexar County and parts of Wilson County.

“The mobile medical clinic will make a daily improvement to the health of women and children in neighborhoods where the greatest need for this charitable care exists for free prenatal care, well-baby checkups and other clinic services,” said Kevin Dinnin, president and chief executive officer of Baptist Child & Family Services. “We are very pleased that Southeast Baptist Hospital has agreed to provide the clinical support for the mobile health unit.”

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Seminary attorney clarifies trustee statement_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Seminary attorney clarifies trustee statement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary attorney Don Richard recently issued a letter to Southern Baptist Convention attorneys, providing documentation about sole membership language approved by seminary trustees during a closed executive session in mid-October.

Previously, the exact nature of the actions taken in the closed session was unclear, even though the trustees publicly released two motions they had approved.

The news is significant, observers noted, because it signals the seminary's compliance with the request by SBC messengers at the 2004 annual meeting that the seminary adopt sole membership at their October meeting by amending the seminary's charter.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

On the Move_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

On the Move

Jim Anderson to First Church in Caddo Mills as pastor.

David Askins has resigned as pastor of Fairview Church in Greenville.

Jack Bodenhamer to Trinity Church in Sweetwater as youth minister from First Church in Comanche, where he was a youth ministry intern.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Central Texas Christians give record amount to Operation Christmas Child_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Central Texas Christians give record
amount to Operation Christmas Child

By Terri Jo Ryan

Special to the Baptist Standard

WACO–A record number of shoeboxes filled with small gifts were collected recently at Highland Baptist Church, the final stop in Central Texas for presents intended for Operation Christmas Child.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge

Prayer partnership sparks revival, DOM says_120604

Posted: 12/03/04

Prayer partnership sparks revival, DOM says

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

Prayer is connecting Texas Baptists with Christians from New England to the Rocky Mountains, and it is bringing revival with it, firsthand observers report.

12/03/2004 - By John Rutledge