Week of June 5, 2006
SBC president announces retirement in letter
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (BP) – Bobby Welch, pastor of
First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach and the president of the Southern
Baptist Convention, recently told church leaders he will retire Aug. 27
after 32 years as the church’s senior pastor.
A letter from Welch to members of the church explained he was
“officially” announcing his retirement plans in the May 28 morning
worship services.
“The reason I have written you now is because I want
you to hear from me before the press and newspapers begin to speculate
on the matter. With the Southern Baptist Convention upon us,
undoubtedly that would happen,” Welch wrote, noting that he would have
preferred a “more personal” communication.
Welch said he and his wife, Maudellen, will remain
in the church after retirement, including maintaining an office as he
becomes pastor emeritus, and will offer assistance to David Cox,
Welch’s co-pastor since 2003 who will become senior pastor.
A graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a decorated
combat veteran, Welch is co-founder of the FAITH Sunday School
evangelism strategy and the author of “You, The Warrior Leader.”
Graham statue given to evangelist’s ministry
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) – In advance of the unveiling
of a statue honoring evangelist Billy Graham at the Southern Baptist
Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., SBC President Bobby
Welch presented a bronze model of the sculpture to the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association at its headquarters in Charlotte on May 30.
The sculpture depicts Graham standing at the foot of the cross offering an evangelistic invitation.
Preston Parrish, BGEA executive vice president,
received the statue on behalf of the ministry. He was joined by the
evangelist’s grandson, William Franklin Graham IV as well as longtime
Graham associate Cliff Barrows.
Missouri Baptist women’s track wins national title
FRESNO, Calif. – Led by sophomore Nickesha Anderson,
Missouri Baptist used a sweep of the sprints to literally run away and
win the 26th Annual NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Meet at Fresno Pacific University.
The Spartans scored 126 points to claim their
first-ever outdoor championship and in the process become the sixth
school to sweep the NAIA women’s indoor and outdoor titles in the same
season. Oklahoma Baptist University finished fourth in the competition.
“This was the goal, to win both the indoor and
outdoor championships,” said Missouri Baptist head coach Vince Bingham,
who was named NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Coach of
the Year.. “We thought we could win the outdoor title last year but we
didn’t. The girls wore that all year and lived the dream 365 of winning
outdoors this year. They felt they had unfinished business.”