Immigration to Texas presents new opportunities for missions outreach_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Immigration to Texas presents new
opportunities for missions outreach

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

The continuous influx of immigrants to Texas creates an avenue for churches to improve the lives of large numbers of people, according to observers familiar with immigration statistics.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Missions partnerships build relationships, expand ministries_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Missions partnerships build
relationships, expand ministries

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communication

Texas Baptists are expanding ministries through relationships fostered by the Texas Partnerships Resource Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Subcommittee hears debate on religious expression_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Subcommittee hears debate on religious expression

WASHINGTON (ABP)–Former judge Roy Moore and church-state expert Brent Walker squared off in a lively debate about religious expression and the First Amendment during recent testimony before a congressional subcommittee.

Moore, Walker and others testified before the Constitution subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Alabama officials removed Moore as chief justice of the state Supreme Court last year after he defied a federal judge's order to remove a Ten Commandments monument he had placed in the rotunda of the state judicial headquarters.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

On the Move_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

On the Move

Jerry Duffer has resigned as minister of worship/music at First Church in Friendswood to join a ministry in Botswana, Africa.

George Easter to New Hope Church in Vernon as pastor, where he had been minister of education.

Eric Emblem has resigned as minister to students at First Church in Friendswood.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

And the walls came tumbling down_62804

Posted: 6/25/04 And the walls came tumbling down Workers tear down the facilities of Ross Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas. An electrical fire charred much of the congregation' s historic…

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

African-American Southern Baptists examine their history_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

African-American Southern Baptists examine their history

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–Citing progress in minority representation and optimism toward racial inclusiveness, speakers at the annual African American Southern Baptist History Project said God is continuing to work among Southern Baptists.

Chronicling the growth of racial inclusiveness in the 16-million-member denomination, several speakers pointed to new growth since Southern Baptists became proactive about seeking change. The meeting at Gabriel Missionary Baptist Church was held prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Indianapolis.

“The SBC's racial image is becoming more Christian as churches increasingly reflect the values of Christ toward other people groups,” said Sid Smith, director of the Florida Baptist Convention's African American ministries division.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Bush assures Southern Baptists he will defend traditional view of marriage_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Bush assures Southern Baptists he will
defend traditional view of marriage

By Steve DeVane

North Carolina Biblical Recorder

INDIANAPOLIS–President Bush promised messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting he would “defend the sanctity of marriage against activist courts.”

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

LifeWay vice president announces departure; president to set retirement date early next year_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

LifeWay vice president announces departure;
president to set retirement date early next year

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)–Gene Mims, a key vice president at the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house for 12 years, announced he is leaving to return to the pastorate.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Speakers challenge SBC to advance God’s kingdom_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Speakers challenge SBC to advance God's kingdom

By Steve DeVane

North Carolina Biblical Recorder

INDIANAPOLIS–Southern Baptists can advance God's kingdom through the renewal of desperate passion, the release of divine power and the recovery of decisive purpose, seminary professor Roy Fish told the Southern Baptist Convention.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Southern Baptist withdrawal from BWA not reflective of BGCT, executive director says_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Southern Baptist withdrawal from BWA
not reflective of BGCT, executive director says

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

The Southern Baptist Convention's decision to cut ties with the BWA “does not represent the vision of the Baptist General Convention of Texas,” said BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texan wins national contest with simple speech about trust_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Texan wins national contest
with simple speech about trust

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–“Just trust” is a simple message, but it's one that Emily Burkhead lives by daily.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge

Texas Tidbits_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

Texas Tidbits

Brazilian missions immersion trip planned. Rob Sellers, missions professor at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology, and his wife, Janie, will lead six Logsdon students on a discovery tour of Brazilian history, culture and religion July 5 to Aug. 5. They will visit Brazilia, Manaus, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo. Explorations will include rainforest ecological institutes, Candomblé (spiritist religion) worship centers and a tour of the world's second-largest Catholic cathedral and complex. Lectures by professors, priests and pastors–plus hands-on involvement in orphanages, prisons and low-income favelas–will enable students to learn about topics as varied as liberation theology, Pentecostalism, evangelical social ministries and Roman Catholicism. Brazilian Baptists will join other Christian groups to help serve as hosts to the Hardin-Simmons team.

Palacios camp urgently needs volunteers. Texas Baptist Encampment at Palacios urgently needs volunteer teams to finish a dorm before more than 600 youth arrive July 5 for the summer's largest camp. Workers primarily will paint, move furniture and finish the electrical, plumbing and air conditioning for the first of three dorms being constructed after Hurricane Claudette destroyed a large dorm, a staff building and a tabernacle last year. Construction was delayed several months due to heavy rains. Hotel rooms and recreational vehicle connections are available for volunteers. Encampment staff will provide free meals. Volunteers can work through July 5 or a portion of that time. For more information, contact the encampment office at (361) 972-2717.

ETBU economic impact assessed. Officials at East Texas Baptist University have estimated the university contributes more than $173 million to the local economy each year during the 11 months classes are in session. "The Marshall Chamber of Commerce has told us that a dollar turns over seven times before leaving the community," said ETBU President Bob Riley. The dollar amount was calculated by a formula based on figures of ETBU's $20.9 million annual budget; about 1,200 full-time students on campus each month; an estimated $300 per month average local expenditure per student; about 10,000 campus visitors in the last year and an estimated $84 that each visitor spent in the community. Charles Williams, dean of the Fred Hale School of Business, noted 78 percent of ETBU students come from outside of Harrison County, bringing millions of dollars into the area that otherwise would go elsewhere.

06/25/2004 - By John Rutledge