BaptistWay Bible Series for November 18: Live like this

Posted: 11/09/07

BaptistWay Bible Series for November 18

Live like this

• Romans 12:9-18; 13:1-14

Explore the Bible Series for November11: The call to be Jesus

Posted:11/02/07

Explore the Bible Series for November 11

The call to be Jesus

• Matthew 19:1-15

IMB trustees censure Burleson, bar him from board activities

Posted: 11/08/07

IMB trustees censure Burleson,
bar him from board activities

By Robert Marus

Associated Baptist Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP)—In a rare move, trustees of a Southern Baptist Convention agency voted to censure one of their own and effectively bar him from carrying out the duties of his office.

However, reform-minded Oklahoma pastor Wade Burleson has vowed to continue doing the job to which his fellow Southern Baptists elected him. And he defended his right to dissent, saying he will continue to offer a respectful critique of some International Mission Board policies.

11/08/2007 - By John Rutledge

Bible Studies for Life Series for November 11: The cure for anxious care

Posted: 11/02/07

Bible Studies for Life Series for November 11

The cure for anxious care

• Matthew 6:19-34

Missouri convention rejects candidates backed by fundamentalist group

Posted: 11/05/07

Missouri convention rejects candidates
backed by fundamentalist group

By Bill Webb

Word & Way

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (ABP)—For the first time in eight years, messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting have rejected a slate of officer candidates allied with an organized fundamentalist organization.

Meeting at a resort on the state’s Lake of the Ozarks, messengers did an abrupt about-face, overwhelmingly rejecting four officer nominees closely identified with Project 1000. The effort, almost a decade old, had been a successful strategy for fundamentalists to take control of the state convention.

11/05/2007 - By John Rutledge

Foreclosure narrowly averted on former Windermere acreage

Posted: 11/05/07

Foreclosure narrowly averted
on former Windermere acreage

By Vicki Brown

Associated Baptist Press

CAMDENTON, Mo. (ABP)—A refinancing agreement with a bank means private development will move forward on land adjacent to Missouri Baptists’ Windermere Baptist Conference Center.

Corporate representative Jerry Hill confirmed a foreclosure notice has been served on Windermere Development Company, Inc., owners of 941 acres that once belonged to Windermere Baptist Conference Center. The center occupies valuable land on a cove of the Lake of the Ozarks, a popular resort destination in south-central Missouri.

11/05/2007 - By John Rutledge

BWA leader urges U.S. Baptists to cooperate

Posted: 11/05/07

BWA leader urges U.S. Baptists to cooperate

By Trennis Henderson

Kentucky Western Recorder

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (ABP)—Declaring that “the mission of God in this century of glorious mission opportunity needs as much unity as possible,” Baptist World Alliance President David Coffey is calling on his Baptist brethren in America to set aside their differences, for Christ’s sake.

Coffey, who was elected in 2005 to a five-year term as BWA president, recently made a tour of the United States. He retired last year after 15 years as general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

11/05/2007 - By John Rutledge

First woman BGCT president elected, budget approved

Updated: 11/02/07

First woman BGCT president
elected, budget approved

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

MARILLO—Messengers to the Baptist General Conven-tion of Texas annual meeting narrowly elected the first woman president of the state convention—and continued a two-decade string of officers endorsed by the moderate Texas Baptists Committed organization.

By about a two-to-one margin, messengers approved a $50.1 million Cooperative Program budget, and they overwhelmingly rebuffed a move to consider a “no-confidence” vote in the BGCT Executive Board. They also approved creation of a committee to recommend a “shared vision” for the convention—but without the 2008 completion deadline or the 2020 target goal proposed by the original maker of the motion.

Joy Fenner presides over a session of the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in her capacity as first vice president. She was elected the convention’s first female president in Amarillo. (PHOTO/Robert Rogers/Baylor University)

11/04/2007 - By John Rutledge

More than 100 profess faith in Christ during CityReach

Posted: 11/02/07

More than 100 profess faith
in Christ during CityReach

By John Hall

Texas Baptists Communications

AMARILLO—While children ran around, bounced in inflatable castles, played basketball, tossed Frisbees and scaled a climbing wall, a young man across the street quietly smiled as he received The Gift.

That’s the name of the Bible translation a volunteer from CityChurch of Amarillo gave him as he heard the Christian plan of salvation. The pair closed their eyes in prayer, and then they embraced in celebration of a new life in Christ.

A CityChurch of Amarillo volunteer shares the gospel with a block party participant during CityReach, an evangelistic emphasis held in conjunction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. (BGCT Photo/John Hall)

11/02/2007 - By John Rutledge

Missions take forefront among ministry awards recipients

Posted: 11/02/07

Missions take forefront among
ministry awards recipients

By Marv Knox & Ken Camp

Editor & Managing Editor

AMARILLO—Passion for missions provided the theme of the 2007 Texas Baptist Ministry Awards, presented during the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Amarillo.

Elmin Howell accepted the W. Winfred Moore Award for lifetime ministry achievement. Cindy and Dennis Wiles took the George W. Truett Award for ministerial excellence. And Dick Hurst—who was unable to attend—was named the recipient of the Marie Mathis Award for lay ministry.

Cindy and Dennis Wiles	Elmin Howell

11/02/2007 - By John Rutledge

WMU board discusses transition period, plans to select interim executive director

Posted: 11/02/07

WMU board discusses transition period,
plans to select interim executive director

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

AMARILLO —The Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas board of directors may have started their meeting with uneasiness about the future, but they ended on a positive note about ongoing missions work around the state—and the hope of having an interim executive director-treasurer for the missions organization in place by December.

The board began its business session with words of encouragement from a Baptist General Convention of Texas representative and Texas WMU President Nelda Taylor concerning the Oct. 16 resignation of Texas WMU Executive Director-Treasurer Carolyn Porterfield.

11/02/2007 - By John Rutledge

WMU annual meeting features theme of ‘shaping’ for God’s purpose

Posted: 11/02/07

WMU annual meeting features
theme of ‘shaping’ for God’s purpose

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

MARILLO—With a backdrop of terracotta and colorful glazed pottery, Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas celebrated another year of missions endeavors during its annual meeting, held in conjunction with the Baptist General Con-vention of Texas in Amarillo.

Centered on the theme “Shaped for His Purpose,” the 127th annual meeting featured testimonies that showed individuals being shaped to do God’s work and how that work is being carried out in around the world.

Texas WMU officers elected at the missions organization’s annual meeting are (front) Nelda Taylor of Gonzales, president; (left to right) Suzy Wall of Canyon, second vice president; Anna Zimmer of Kingwood, recording secretary; Frankie Harvey of Nacogdoches, first vice president; and Jo Lee of San Antonio, third vice president. (PHOTO/Eric Guel)

11/02/2007 - By John Rutledge