Kindergartner reads her favorite Bible stories to nursing home residents_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Kindergartner reads her favorite
Bible stories to nursing home residents

By Renee Busby

Religion News Service

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (RNS)–Hannah Denham has been practicing her reading. But she doesn't always sit at home in her room to read her favorite stories. Instead, she shares them with strangers.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Detours lead to linkage between churches in Waco, Boulder_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Detours lead to linkage between churches in Waco, Boulder

By Sarah Farris

BGCT Summer Intern

BOULDER, Colo.–Life had taken a wrong turn. A minister with a passion for unreached people was called to work in Waco with Baylor University students. And a Rocky Mountain girl who wanted to attend Colorado University ended up at Baylor.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Baptist Briefs_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Baptist Briefs

Transition murky at Habitat. Millard Fuller, who founded the world-renowned Christian housing ministry Habitat for Humanity International with his wife, Linda, in 1976, will end his service as president next year. But Fuller and Habitat directors have been in conflict for several months over how and when the leadership transition will take place. While retaining the title of president and chief executive officer, Fuller, who turns 70 in January, said he has been forced into a "figurehead" role since former board chairman Paul Leonard Jr. was sent to the Americus, Ga.-based headquarters in June as managing director. Former President Jimmy Carter, a longtime Habitat volunteer and personal friend of the Fullers, brokered an agreement that called for Fuller's retirement in January 2005. But Fuller has sought to extend his term as Habitat's president and CEO until later in 2005 when the completion of the 200,000th house built by the worldwide ministry is expected to occur. Board leaders have offered Fuller the opportunity to preside over the dedication of that historic milestone, but not in the role of CEO.

Olford dies at 86. Biblical expositor Stephen Olford died at age 86 after suffering a massive stroke. He was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in suburban Memphis, Tenn. He founded the Stephen Olford Institute for Biblical Preaching in 1980 to promote verse-by-verse biblical preaching and practical training for pastors, evangelists and lay leaders.

Criswell College installs president. Jerry Johnson was installed as the sixth president of Criswell College in Dallas last week. The 40-year-old Malakoff native was the unanimous choice of trustees last December and began serving in February. Johnson, a 1986 Criswell graduate, came to Criswell College from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was dean of the seminary's Boyce College. Criswell College is affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Church benefits as families give up cable TV_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Church benefits as families give up cable TV

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN SABA–When challenged to give sacrificially to build a new sanctuary, some families at First Baptist Church of San Saba decided to give up ESPN, CNN and HBO.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Hope floats at First Baptist Church, Canyon Lake_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Volunteers from First Baptist Church in Canyon Lake offer free drinks to vacationing tubers on the Guadalupe River, explaining that God freely offers salvation as a gift, just as the church freely provides the refreshing drinks.

Hope floats at First Baptist Church, Canyon Lake

By Craig Bird

Special to the Baptist Standard

CANYON LAKE–Every summer, the Guadalupe River becomes an international waterway. Mike Bates thinks that makes it a prime location to tell folks about a God who loves the whole world.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Members of Canyon Lake church develop varied ministries_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Members of Canyon Lake church develop varied ministries

By Craig Bird

Special to the Baptist Standard

CANYON LAKE–Giving away bottles of water and soft drinks to sunburned tubers may be the most unusual outreach project at First Baptist Church in Canyon Lake, but it is certainly is not the only one.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Cartoon_92004

Posted: 9/17/04 I wasn't satisfied just changing the bylaws. No, I had to change the order of worship, too. See second cartoon here. “Micah, since you're a minor prophet, I'm…

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

ANOTHER VIEW: The ’50s weren’t what they used to_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

ANOTHER VIEW:
The '50s weren't what they used to be

By Tom Ehrich

Four parents serve dinner at our church's youth group meeting.

I observe hesitant sixth-graders looking panicked, hopeful seventh-graders withering before 11th-graders, older boys and girls connecting while middle-schoolers choose his-or-her tables.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Secretary of State describes crisis in Darfur as ‘genocide’_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Secretary of State describes crisis in Darfur as 'genocide'

By Robert Marus

ABP Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (ABP)–In the Bush administration's most powerful statement to date on the situation in the troubled Sudanese province of Darfur, Secretary of State Colin Powell told a Senate committee that black Africans were being subjected to “genocide” in the region–and the Arab-controlled government in Khartoum shared responsibility.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

DBU SWAT team_92004

Posted: 9/17/04 DBU SWAT team Dallas Baptist University incoming freshmen Amber Smith (left) and Lacey Scarborough help transfer boxes of toys to the Mission Arlington Christmas Store, where the toys…

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

Same song, second verse for disaster relief volunteers in hurricane season_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Same song, second verse for disaster
relief volunteers in hurricane season

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

For Baptist disaster relief workers, the second verse is much like the first.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge

DOWN HOME: Small-car-proof what’s important_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

DOWN HOME:
Small-car-proof what's important

“Well, I could've bought you a stronger sunglasses case,” Joanna said, handing me something like a black cocoon with a zipper.

“This should be just fine,” I told her, unzipping the case and testing my sunglasses–the new sunglasses she bought me for my birthday–to see how they fit.

True confession: I have a weakness for two luxuries–shoes and glasses.

09/16/2004 - By John Rutledge