Sharon Pumpelly goes to work every day knowing that 500 people in her country will die of AIDS before the sun sets. It is a race against the clock that Christian workers across Africa are fighting. The AIDS epidemic already has claimed 13 million Africans. Still, it is one that can be stopped. Sharon Pumpelly goes to work every day knowing that 500 people in her country will die of AIDS before the sun sets. It is a race against the clock that Christian workers across Africa are fighting. The AIDS epidemic already has claimed 13 million Africans. Still, it is one that can be stopped. Southern Baptist missionaries and their African partners are seeking that end. They do not want multitudes of Africans to die before hearing of Gods love and forgiveness. "I keep saying one generation could end AIDS - one generation of young people following Gods ways," says Pumpelly, a Southern Baptist missions worker in Kenya. "Either Im ignorant enough or naive enough or have faith enough to believe thats how youth should be challenged. ... They are the hope, and they can make that kind of choice." That hope prompted Pumpelly and a student ministry team in Uganda, … [Read more...]
The horror … and the hope (Part 1)
As AIDS ravages the continent of Africa, Southern Bsptists and others respond with God's love and a message of hope for the future Sue Sprenkle SBC International Mission Board As AIDS ravages the continent of Africa, Southern Bsptists and others respond with God's love and a message of hope for the future The elderly woman sits in silence just outside the hospitals open door. The electricity is off, but she does not notice the darkness. In a moment, a loud sob escapes her lips. It is the sound of grief - her daughter died just 20 minutes ago. Now, the woman grabs the hand of the person next to her and lets out a piercing wail. Soon, the wail turns into a slow, sad, mournful song. For the past few days, this elderly woman sat next to her daughter, holding her hand, coaxing her to eat. When the daughter shivered from burning fever, she added a blanket. As visitors came and went, the mother made sure everyone greeted her daughter, even after the girl was comatose. When the room filled with the sickening, sweet smell of death, everyone left but the mother - still smiling, still hoping. In the hallways of Zimbabwes Sanyati Baptist Hospital, no one … [Read more...]
Half a century ago, this Baptist college took a stand
Teresa Young Wayland University It was not a matter of breaking new ground or setting a precedent - and it was not about who was right or wrong. It was not a matter of breaking new ground or setting a precedent - and it was not about who was right or wrong. For Annie Taylor, applying to attend Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, was simply a matter of convenience. Still, her act - and the colleges acceptance of her application - would gain international media exposure for its role as a blow to the nations practice of segregation. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Waylands voluntary move to integrate, making it the first four-year, liberal arts college in the former Confederacy to do so. Taylor had a simple goal in submitting her application. The 48-year-old black teacher from Floydada, Texas, needed a few classes in order to keep her teacher certification. A couple of other schools were options - but Wayland College made more sense. It was only 30 miles away. Still, this was 1951, a time when the United States still separated blacks from whites in restaurants, restrooms, drinking fountains and … [Read more...]
Internet providing new avenue for child pornography
News that a Texas husband and wife were convicted in the largest child pornography business ever uncovered was not surprising to Richard Land. Indeed, his concern is that the news was shocking to most other Americans. News that a Texas husband and wife were convicted in the largest child pornography business ever uncovered was not surprising to Richard Land. Indeed, his concern is that the news was shocking to most other Americans. The international porn ring is still being broken up, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft reported after the August 8 conviction of the Texas couple. As president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Land said he knows that the growth of the Internet has brought nearly as much bad as good. And the ready availability of online child pornography is a case in point, he said. Land cited a March 19, 2001, Newsweek report that legal authorities had done a good job in busting up child porn rings until the Internet provided a whole new and wide-open avenue for propagating the filth. "Child pornography was pretty much eradicated in the 1980s," said Kevin Delli-Colli, chief of the U.S. Customs … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of August 30, 2001 Potpourri COVINGTON - First church: preschool and childrens music conference; Sept. 14, 7 - 9 p.m.; Sept. 15, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; for information, contact Leigh Ford, minister of music, at (504) 892-2149 or e-mail to: lford@FBCCov.org; Wayne Bailey, pastor. JACKSON - Judson Baptist Church Retreat center: Womens Retreat; Oct. 12-13; "Dressing for Service"; Rhonda Kelley, speaker; Paula Payne and Dandy Moore, worship leaders. For more information, call 225-634-7225. Eugene Morris, manager; Debi Morris, retreat coordinator. SHREVEPORT - Broadmoor church: "Ridgecrest on the Red"; Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; registration, 8:15 a.m.; James Merritt, Tommy Sanders, Willa Ruth Garlow, Sam McLamb, R. Wayne Jones, Topper Reid, Chuck Gartman, Randy Johnson, AllenJackson and Bill Tolar, speakers; early registration cost if $13 per person (must be postmarked by Aug. 31); afterwards, cost is $15; cost includes lunch; sponsored by Northwest La. Association and LBC; Chuck Pourciau, pastor. Homecomings GLENMORA - Amiable church: 173rd; Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m.; Billy Edwards, speaker; dinner and singing by Ronnie and the Builders of Faith and Wayne Fender to follow; Gerald … [Read more...]
Commentary
A thuggish band of pushers stalks the children of the world, peddling a deadly poison that results in hope- less addiction, psychological devastation and societal upheaval. A thuggish band of pushers stalks the children of the world, peddling a deadly poison that results in hope- less addiction, psychological devastation and societal upheaval. Despite efforts to stop them, these crafty schemers smuggle their wares across national borders at ever-escalating rates. The only solution appears to be a tough "zero tolerance" policy. After all, this scourge must not stand. Those who think these characters are drug dealers or crime bosses would be wrong. They are missionaries. Indeed, the aftermath of the recent tragedy in the skies over the Amazon River has revealed a jarring new element to the culture wars in the rhetoric of some secularist commentators - namely, an almost violent contempt for missionaries. Independent Baptist missionary Roni Bowers and her newly-adopted baby, Charity, were killed when their plane was gunned down by a Peruvian fighter jet, which mistakenly believed the missionaries plane to belong to a drug cartel. Just nights later, the … [Read more...]
In Uganda, hope builds for the gospal message to spread across the nation
What started out as a hunger for food in Uganda has turned into a hunger for Christ - and could spark a movement that takes the gospel across the nation. What started out as a hunger for food in Uganda has turned into a hunger for Christ - and could spark a movement that takes the gospel across the nation. It all began in a refugee camp in the town of Kitgum. Today, the sound of beating drums and singing drift down the walking path there, beckoning perons to join a celebration. Joicemary Anyiri joins the singing as she picks up the pace on the short walk from her mud home. The barefoot old woman walks with a slight limp. It does not matter to her - like many of her neighbors, she is on her way to hear about Jesus. As the Bible teaching begins, silence falls across the 200 people squeezing under the limited shade. Anyiri concentrates on every word the teacher speaks, trying to memorize each point so it can be recited later at home. Her older sister, Doloryina Obol, sits next to her doing the same. At first glance, Padibe Baptist Church looks like any other. You would never guess that this group is only months old or that many of its leaders are even … [Read more...]
Gospel wildfire!
Even as some social commentators question the idea of global mission efforts, Southern Baptist Workers around the world are reporting unbelievable responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ Even as some social commentators question the idea of global mission efforts, Southern Baptist Workers around the world are reporting unbelievable responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ All over the world, new Christians and new churches are multiplying in number and changing the face of Southern Baptist missions in the process. Consider two facts gleaned from Southern Baptist missionary reports on the year just past: Three church-planting movements played a major role in fueling a 37.4 percent increase in the total number of new churches during 1999. In East Asia, baptisms among just one people group exploded with 114,000 in one year. Just eight years ago, only 85 Christians and three churches existed in the province. The emergence of church-planting movements - the spontaneous, rapid multiplication of new disciples and congregations - had a dramatic impact on Southern Baptist International Mission Board statistics in 2000. And observers expect even more … [Read more...]
New Annuity Board personal investment options available soon
New investment opportunities soon will be available to eligible Southern Baptist Annuity Board participants, including Individual Retirement Accounts and Personal Investment Accounts. New investment opportunities soon will be available to eligible Southern Baptist Annuity Board participants, including Individual Retirement Accounts and Personal Investment Accounts. The approval of changes to the Annuity Boards ministry assignment last year paved the way for the introduction of these new financial services. Since that action at last years Southern Baptist Convention, Annuity Board trustees have approved the restructuring of the boards investment funds to create AB Funds Trust, a family of 13 no-load, registered mutual funds. AB Funds Trust will serve as the investment vehicle for the Annuity Boards retirement plans. Arrangements were made for eligible participants to have IRAs and Personal Investment Accounts by purchasing shares in AB Funds Trust through PFPC Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer. SBC Trust Services, Inc., also an Annuity Board affiliate, will serve as IRA custodian. Launch of the new fund structure and products is anticipated to be … [Read more...]
Arizona Baptists restructure convention
Arizona Southern Baptists have agreed to restructure their convention, streamlining the staff and reorder- ing the way the denomination carries out its work in the state. Arizona Southern Baptists have agreed to restructure their convention, streamlining the staff and reorder- ing the way the denomination carries out its work in the state. The changes all were approved by more than two-thirds of messengers to a called convention session last month and became effective at the first of this month. Under the approved plans: The state convention structure and staff will be streamlined, with the Arizona Church Growth Board and Arizona State Mission Board dissolved at the end of last month. Dismantling those boards means the termination of 16 employees, with another five cut from the state convention staff. The state convention changes its relationship with Arizona Baptist Childrens Services. The convention will no longer own and operate any agencies but will relate to the child services agency through a cooperative agreement. The agencys board of trustees will become a self-perpetuating board but is committed to remaining Southern Baptist. Convention messengers also approved cooperative agreements … [Read more...]
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