For the week of September 18, 2003
Briefs 9-18
Iraqi relief efforts
Baptist relief workers from five states visited homes and engaged
in healthcare efforts among Iraqi refugees in Jordan last week. The workers
originally were scheduled to go into Iraq, to begin delivery of 46,000 food
boxes collected by Southern Baptists for needy families there. However, security
concerns diverted the team to Jordan. Workers there sought to arrange for a
portion of the boxes to be delivered to Iraqi refugees living in the country.
However, red tape and other problems derailed such efforts. Instead, relief
workers were able to visit some refugee homes, giving a limited amount of supplies
they either had brought with them or purchased locally. The workers also provided
a nominal sum of money to the refugees for rent. Relief workers also spent a
day at a location where Iraqi refugees and others who are too poor to afford
regular health care received some basic medical attention. “What better
way to show the grace and reconciliation of God than to bring help to those
who we perceived had hurt us,” one of the stateside workers
noted.
Voucher program
A school voucher program for the District of Columbia drew
nearer to reality recently. The U.S. House of Representatives voted twice for
the program, by a two-vote margin on one day and by a one-vote margin four days
later, when opponents called for a revote, as is their privilege. House members
later approved the larger appropriations bill that the voucher plan is attached
to as well. The pilot voucher plan would provide a scholarship of as much as
$7,500 per student for low-income families to use at any District of Columbia
private school – secular or religious. A Senate committee has approved
a similar voucher plan as part of its District of Columbia appropriations bill,
but the full Senate has yet to hold a floor vote on the measure. President George
Bush strongly supports the voucher plan, as do the District of Columbia mayor
and school board president. Public school organizations and some civil liberties
and church-state groups lead the opposition. The Southern Baptist Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commission has supported the inclusion of religious schools
in voucher programs.
Healthcare network
Southern Baptist Annuity Board leaders recently announced participants
in their Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) medical plans will have access
to Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO networks, effective Jan. 1. That means 99 percent
of medical plan participants will have access to PPO doctors and facilities,
a board spokesperson said. In areas where two networks are available, Annuity
Board participants will be able to choose the one that offers them the best
provider access, the spokesperson said. In the PPO network, participating healthcare
providers agree to provide services at a significant discount from their regular
charges. In turn, the medical plans pay a higher coinsurance percentage for
care received in the PPO network. In addition to Blue Cross Blue Shield, the
network still will be available through The Principal Financial Group. For details,
call 800-262-0511.
LifeWay reports
Leaders at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist
Convention reported last week the agency expects to post record revenues of
almost $421 million this fiscal year, $6.3 million more than last year. LifeWays
fiscal year ends Sept. 30. Funds provided from operations – money for reinvestment
in ministry expansion – are expected to be $14 million (3.3 percent of
revenue), consistent with LifeWays goal. In response to the news, LifeWay
trustees adopted a record 2004 operating budget of $445.4 million, along with
capital expenditures of $14.7 million. In other action, trustees learned about
11 percent of those who attended student events at the agencys national
conference centers this summer (79,570) made recordable decisions, including
1,550 who received Christ as their personal savior. Trustees also learned the
agency completed 12 LifeWay Christian Store projects in the last year, including
a new store in Baton Rouge. In addition, the entire Holman Christian Standard
Bible translation is set to be available by next spring. The Holman Christian
Standard Bible translation already can be viewed in its entirety on www.lifeway.com.
Trustees also learned LifeWay sponsored four mission trips that recorded four
church starts and saw 585 professions of faith.
Historic move
In a historic move, Arab Baptists in Iraq organized a union
and elected a moderator who has the support of Baptists in other Arab countries
to set up a center for ministry in Baghdad. Catholic and Orthodox churches have
had a long-standing presence in Iraq, but the formation of a Baptist Union is
a first for Iraqi Baptists. They are seeking to practice their faith openly
in this mostly-Muslim country that is experiencing some newly-found freedoms
now. The newly elected moderator (unidentified for security reasons) told a
group of relief workers that God has prepared him to return to his native homeland
of Iraq, where 15-20 believers are awaiting baptism and one leader is ready
to be ordained to the ministry. Up to this point, the moderator said work in
Iraq has been accomplished only with “one eye on ministry and the other
eye on Saddam Hussein.” However, he expressed hopes that others now will
see fruits of open ministry in Baghdad. “I am hoping Gods message
will penetrate not only Iraq, but the whole Middle East,” he said.
Best and worst
“Touched By An Angel” was the best primetime broadcast television
show last season, while “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” was the worst,
annual rankings by the Parents Television Council indicates. The CBS drama went
out on top, calling it quits at seasons end after nine years and is in
syndication on PAX. Rounding out the top 10 best shows were: “Doc,”
“Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye,” “Seventh Heaven,” “Life With
Bonnie,” Smallville,” “Reba,” “Star Search,” “George
Lopez” and “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.” The
ABC and WB networks tied with three shows apiece in the top 10, followed by
PAX and CBS, with two shows each. NBC and FOX did not make the best list. However,
NBC did place four shows on the top 10 “worst” list. The crime-related
show that topped the “worst” list is followed by: “Kingpin,”
“Fastlane,” “NYPD Blue,” “Fear Factor,” “Angel,”
“Girlfriends,” “Will & Grace,” “Friends” and
“Big Brother 3.” On an interesting note, CBS aired the two shows that
topped both the “best” and “worst” lists.