Water is a very big issue in the Valley of the Sun, an area known for its dry, hot climate. So, when several thousand Southern Baptists shared the Living Water of Jesus Christ as part of Crossover Arizona, it made perfect sense to douse their message with the conventional hydrating variety. Water is a very big issue in the Valley of the Sun, an area known for its dry, hot climate. So, when several thousand Southern Baptists shared the Living Water of Jesus Christ as part of Crossover Arizona, it made perfect sense to douse their message with the conventional hydrating variety. "Would you like some water?" Clyde Besson asked hikers as they came off nearby Camelback Mountain on June 14. "It’s free, and it’s cold - I promise you," added Besson, who serves as pastor at Mountain View Baptist Church in Phoenix. "Has this bottle been blessed?" quipped one hiker as she grabbed the water. Volunteers offered water to more than 300 hikers. Each bottle was marked with the church’s name and the text of John 4:14, in which Christ promises, "Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst again." The water giveaway was one of 62 separate events scheduled for the June 11-22 Crossover evangelism effort involving 42 Arizona … [Read more...]

The article "More and more teenagers are having sex" in the June 5 issue of the Baptist Message by Richard Ross is just the usual cop-out by people who should know better. The article "More and more teenagers are having sex" in the June 5 issue of the Baptist Message by Richard Ross is just the usual cop-out by people who should know better. Mr. Ross lays the blame on parents when anyone knows parents are just grownup teens. If a person is a sexual deviate in his youth, he’ll be the same as a parent. What kind of advice is that? It’s the blind leading the blind.   Parental guidance has been advocated for years, yet it isn’t working or why the title to the article. The article also says Mr. Ross is one of the founders of the "True Love Waits" campaign, another gimmick which hasn’t seemed to work. This is no surprise since true love does not wait. Ask most pregnant teens, and they will tell you it was true love. The reason teens should wait is not some trick phrase but because God says so ... THOU SHALL NOT. This needs to be preached down the throats of parents and teens both. Only faith can overcome sexual immorality, and faith "cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Let’s get real and … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers proposed more than a dozen motions during their annual meeting last week, all but one of which were referred to agencies for consideration.   Proposals included motions that: Southern Baptist Convention messengers proposed more than a dozen motions during their annual meeting last week, all but one of which were referred to agencies for consideration.   Proposals included motions that:   • The Southern Baptist Convention increase its attention and funding for Middle Eastern immigrant ministries, specifically in the areas of church planting and evangelism. The motion was referred to the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.   • The North American Mission Board and Southern Baptist International Mission Board work together to "bring the gospel of ... Jesus Christ to an estimated two million international students, scholars and their families residing in the United States." The motion also was referred to the North American Mission Board.   • New York City be the site of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention. It was referred to the SBC Executive Committee.   • Cleveland be the host city of the 2010 annual … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week made their views clear on several key issues - including abortion and the family.   Messengers approved eight resolutions during the 2003 annual meeting - including the traditional statement expressing gratitude to convention organizers. The statements were adopted in near unanimous fashion. Messengers only paused briefly to reject a pair of amendments offered. Southern Baptist Convention messengers last week made their views clear on several key issues - including abortion and the family.   Messengers approved eight resolutions during the 2003 annual meeting - including the traditional statement expressing gratitude to convention organizers. The statements were adopted in near unanimous fashion. Messengers only paused briefly to reject a pair of amendments offered.   The approved statements address:   • Abortion. The resolution reiterates the convention’s opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion 30 years ago and voices regret that previous actions had supported abortion.   The resolution insists the 1973 ruling was "an act of injustice against innocent unborn children as well as … [Read more...]

For the week of June 26, 2003 Potpourri • HOUMA - Christ church: Patriotic service with flag pole dedication; June 29, 10:45 a.m.; Hunt Downer, special guest; John Baye, Jr., pastor.   • GRETNA - First church: Long Term Care Seminar; July 15, 10:30 a.m.; free; Charles Bass, seminar leader; Kenneth C. Duke, Sr., pastor.   • WINNFIELD - First church: "America- A Pilgrim’s Prayer, A Patriot’s Dream" community patriotic service presented by combined area church choirs; July 2, 6 p.m.; John Holland, minister of music; Lindsey Burns, pastor.   • METAIRIE - Memorial church: Miracle Mondays in July; 7 p.m. each Monday; nursery provided; speakers are: July 7-Jeff Hathorn, July 14-Keith Manuel, July 21-Dean Doster and July 28-Fred Luter; Paul L. Biange, III, pastor.   • TIOGA - Tioga High School Auditorium: "Taking a Stand" men’s retreat; July 11, 7-9 p.m. and July 12, 10 a.m.- 12 noon; free admission; Roy Moore, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, keynote speaker; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Mark Lanier, music; for information or to register, call Mark Lanier at (318) 641-0673.   • BATON ROUGE - Brookstown church: The Harrells in concert; June 29, 6 p.m.; (6066 … [Read more...]