For the published date of March 5, 2004 ‘Thanks, Mr. President’   Some 70 of the nation’s leading evangelical and pro-family leaders have signed a letter thanking President George Bush for his courage in endorsing a constitutional marriage amendment. (See Page Seven) Those signing included five Southern Baptist leaders. The letter was released after Bush endorsed an amendment to the Constitution that would protect the traditional definition of marriage, thus banning same-sex marriage. "Mr. President, we applaud your courage," the letter reads. "There have been times in our history when presidents have been called upon to make difficult decisions to protect the balance of power in our government. ... We think you are making just such a stand in opposing what we view as runaway courts. Thank you, sir, for standing with the people and for doing what is right." The letter promises the leaders’ support in pushing an amendment. It also praises Bush for his leadership in preserving the traditional family. "We can think of no more crucial issue for our nation than the preservation of the institution of marriage," it notes.   SBC president   Florida Baptist pastor Bobby Welch apparently … [Read more...]

Last February, one telephone call 2,500 miles away from New Orleans changed Scott Hanberry’s life. Last February, one telephone call 2,500 miles away from New Orleans changed Scott Hanberry’s life.   At the time, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduate was content managing the on-campus Lifeway Christian Resources store and serving as pastor of a church in Hattiesburg, Miss.   The call came from longtime friend Mike Palmer, pastor at Salmon Valley Baptist Church in Salmon, Idaho. He phoned Hanberry to request Bibles for church members to give away on their missions trip.   "As we were talking, Scott asked me about the churches in the Coeur d’Alene/Hayden area," Palmer recounts. "I said off the cuff, jokingly, ‘Why don’t you come up here and start one.’"   As it turns out, the joke turned into a life-changing decision for Hanberry.   "We were really content enjoying the ministry God had given us (in the South)," says Hanberry, whose place of ministry always had been in the Deep South.   However, after praying about the situation, Hanberry, his wife and two sons made the cross-country trek to Idaho last September to plant NorthStar … [Read more...]

She was nominated for Country Christian Music Association’s New Artist of the Year award last November. She was nominated for Country Christian Music Association’s New Artist of the Year award last November.   Her single "Where You Are" spent 11 consecutive weeks last year in the Country Christian Music top 10 chart, reaching as high as number two.   But spend a few minutes with April Nicole McInturf, and one will realize the Louisiana Baptist youth values her family as much as her musical accolades.   "I’m real close to my parents," says the Louisiana State University freshman, who eats supper with her family when she is not working at a Baton Rouge delicatessen or singing at a church.   "This is just a wonderful family."   The Louisiana Baptist ties are deep.   Her two uncles are ministers, her cousin is a youth intern, and her grandfather and father serve as deacons at their Louisiana Baptist churches.   In fact, Nicole - who goes by that last name musically - is the only non-preacher’s kid on her dad’s side of the family.   "I have so many relatives in churches, so, I always was able to go and sing at their different churches, … [Read more...]

Truth be told, it is not often that one touts Louisiana as a model for the rest of the nation. However, when it comes to promoting sexual abstinence among young people, Louisiana is just that, said Nancy Victory, a Louisiana Baptist who works with the Governor’s Program on Abstinence. Truth be told, it is not often that one touts Louisiana as a model for the rest of the nation.   However, when it comes to promoting sexual abstinence among young people, Louisiana is just that, said Nancy Victory, a Louisiana Baptist who works with the Governor’s Program on Abstinence.   "We are the model program for the country, said Victory, who is a member at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport and who serves as project director for the abstinence program’s Web site.   "We have used the money (available for the program) in innovative, creative ways. Nobody else has clubs and curriculum and community projects and a really top-notch Web site. We have used this money as well as it could be used."   The money Victory refers to is the federal funds made available several years ago as part of the welfare reform legislation.   The money is dedicated for states to use in teaching … [Read more...]

Since 1973, Roe v. Wade has stood as the rule of the land regarding abortion. However, last June, the woman who led to the ruling - the "Jane Roe" of the case - filed suit to reverse the decision. Since 1973, Roe v. Wade has stood as the rule of the land regarding abortion.   However, last June, the woman who led to the ruling - the "Jane Roe" of the case - filed suit to reverse the decision.   Norma McCorvey now is a Christian - and is adamantly pro-life. She is convinced that new evidence shows the harm that abortion does to women.   Thus, last summer, she sought to reopen the 31-year-old case that has shaped the landscape of the country.   That fight has led to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in New Orleans.   A federal district court in Dallas threw out McCorvey’s suit within days of its filing last summer, saying it had not been filed within a reasonable time.   However, McCorvey was undeterred in the matter.   She appealed the decision.   Last month, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to take the case - and actually set oral arguments on the matter for March 2.   However, just last week, … [Read more...]

Re: SBC Executive Committee stand on the Baptist World Alliance Re: SBC Executive Committee stand on the Baptist World Alliance   I attended my first Baptist World Youth Conference in Beirut, Lebanon in 1963. It was an awesome experience to witness the roll call of nations, to meet with people of diverse color, culture and customs but united under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.   It was challenging to hear Christian leaders from all over the world, to learn what God was doing through his children everywhere. God speaks through different languages, works in different cultures but draws people unto himself through his Word and Spirit. Our God and his work are greater than those who would try to coerce everyone in this world to dot every "i" and cross every "t" exclusively like the Southern Baptist Convention.   Years ago, I read a mission study book on Baptists in Europe. It was inspiring to learn that many Baptist bodies in Europe emerged when an individual read the Bible, became a believer, gathered others to join together for Bible study in homes, eventually becoming baptized believers. These Baptist bodies were started not by a foreign mission board. It is amazing how God can grow … [Read more...]

Re: Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee action on "sole membership" for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Re: Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee action on "sole membership" for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   The "sole membership" idea normally applies to secular businesses with governing boards. The lame excuse used by the Executive Committee for sole membership of SBC entities is less legal liability for the convention. In actuality, the closer the entity is to the "owner," the more liability for the owner.   Does the Executive Committee have this authority or right of liability on behalf of the SBC, and will the convention accept the liability from the committee? This is a question that needs to be asked.   Here’s the rub - is this "solely" a grab for more control and/or power over the SBC agencies and their boards by an elite few? Does the Executive Committee have the authority to go before the convention and ask that trustees be removed from boards and replaced with others who will "go along" with the agenda of leaders?   The line must be drawn regarding the authority of the Executive Committee over our entities. And the … [Read more...]

So, how does one explain the infamous - and mega-million-dollar - collapse of Enron just a couple of years ago? So, how does one explain the infamous - and mega-million-dollar - collapse of Enron just a couple of years ago?   For Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins, it could have started with something as simple as a stolen pen.   Indeed, Watkins recently warned students at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., to avoid "the slow steps to disaster" that can result in ethical failures in business.   Recognized as one of Time magazine’s Persons of the Year in 2002, Watkins now speaks out about the ethical failures underlying her former employer’s collapse.   She had a front-row seat for the show.   For many years, Watkins was a high-flying accountant who traveled the world for Enron. However, at age 42, with a 2-year-old daughter to consider, Watkins said she traded that position for what she thought would be quiet "backroom" accounting jobs. Instead, in her new position, Watkins said she soon discovered Enron account discrepancies in the hundreds of millions of dollars.   "The math didn’t add up," she said.   When Watkins questioned the … [Read more...]