The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee again declined to study the use of Cooperative Program funds in efforts involving groups with differing beliefs. The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee again declined to study the use of Cooperative Program funds in efforts involving groups with differing beliefs. During the 2000 national convention this summer, Jerry Moser had asked committee members to study the expenditure of Cooperative Program funds or assets "as pertains to any SBC-supported employees, entitys or agencys cooperative involvements with organizations which include participating individuals, groups, denominations or conventions whose professed be2liefs are in conflict with or could risk possible compromise of the historic distinctives or the unique witness of Southern Baptists to the world. " Moser is pastor at Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church in Theriot. Moser had made a similar motion at the 1999 Southern Baptist Convention, only to have the Executive Committee decline to initiate such a study last fall. The result was the same this year, with committee members reporting last week that trustees and staffs of the various denominational … [Read more...]
SBC decries Texas funding proposal, pledges action
If Texas Baptists follow through with a proposal to reduce funding to Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and selected agencies, denominational leaders said they will appeal directly to churches in the state for funds. If Texas Baptists follow through with a proposal to reduce funding to Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and selected agencies, denominational leaders said they will appeal directly to churches in the state for funds. During its scheduled meeting last week, members of the SBC Executive Committee adopted a resolution addressing a recent funding proposal by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. If approved by Texas Baptist state convention messengers this fall, the plan would reallocate about $4.3 million that now goes to Southern Baptist seminaries to three schools in Texas. Instead, $1 million would be divided among the Southern Baptist seminaries based on the number of Texas students they enroll. In addition, Texas would eliminate funding for the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and provide only token funding for the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee resolution labels the Texas proposal "a unilateral breach of a … [Read more...]
Missionary family escapes death in ambush shooting
A Southern Baptist missionary family in Uganda escaped death Sept. 9 after bandits pumped bullets into their car during an ambush attempt. A Southern Baptist missionary family in Uganda escaped death Sept. 9 after bandits pumped bullets into their car during an ambush attempt. Larry and Terry Singletary, International Mission Board missionaries from Tomball, Texas, were driving with their children outside Karamoja, Uganda. Andy, 19, and Jackie, 15, were in the back seat singing "God is good, all the time!" with their parents when a tribal warrior stepped from the tall grass alongside the road. He quickly retreated into the grass, then reappeared, aiming an AK-47 automatic weapon at the car. Another armed man appeared on the other side of the road. "I knew we were in an ambush," Mrs. Singletary said. The warrior began firing in front of the missionaries car. Singletary jammed the gearshift into reverse and swung the car around as his family ducked between the seats. Three bullets pierced the car and entered the vehicle. "One went in through the roof and hit between Jackie and Andy in the back seats," Mrs. Singletary said. "One shattered the window on Andys side. … [Read more...]
Cause for concern – and hope
For years, many parents and concerned observers have lambasted the American entertainment industry for targeting their children with all degrees of violence. For years, Hollywood largely has ignored the attacks, dismissing them as efforts at "censorship." A report offers a troubling look at media violence and kids - but also represents a hopeful step in the right direction For years, many parents and concerned observers have lambasted the American entertainment industry for targeting their children with all degrees of violence. For years, Hollywood largely has ignored the attacks, dismissing them as efforts at "censorship." For years, politicians have declined to address the problem, leaving the entertainment industry to police itself - with predictable lukewarm results. For years, the dance has gone on - attack, rebut, announce a token effort at reform. And nothing really changed. But it may now. Now, the parents and critics have company - a scathing Federal Trade Commission report outlining how the entertainment industry has targeted children with violence indeed. Now, Hollywood appears on the real defensive … [Read more...]
Preach the word and live it as well, speaker stresses
If preachers want to see the power of God in their ministries, they will have to be passionate and certain about the message - and live a life of holiness to God. Stephen Olford insisted recently. If preachers want to see the power of God in their ministries, they will have to be passionate and certain about the message - and live a life of holiness to God. Stephen Olford insisted recently. "Beloved, if you stand behind this holy desk and your life isnt pure; if your life isnt absolutely holy as far as you know it; if you are not walking under an unclouded sky with the ungrieved, unquenched Holy Spirit in your life; then, my friend, youve absolutely blocked the message from any authority whatsoever," Olford stressed in a series of lectures at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In his addresses, Olford stressed the importance of "incarnational preaching," in which preachers are not only to preach the Word of God but to live it as well. Olford cited concern with statistics that indicate pastors are becoming more and more susceptible to worldliness. This worldliness is draining the pulpit of Gods supernatural power to change lives, he insisted. In turn, Olford … [Read more...]
‘Open thine hand wide’ – millions of people around the world are hungry
A co-worker sticks her head into a neighboring cubicle. "Want to grab a bite to eat?" she asks a fellow worker. "I’m starving." The reply is immediate - "You bet. I’m so hungry I could eat a side of beef." And off they go, seeking nourishment. Chances are, they will not have to look far - it seems restaurants are on every corner. Finding one usually is not difficult. Most often, the difficulty is in choosing one. Of course, some people are not so lucky. Aco-worker sticks her head into a neighboring cubicle. "Want to grab a bite to eat?" she asks a fellow worker. "I’m starving." The reply is immediate - "You bet. I’m so hungry I could eat a side of beef." And off they go, seeking nourishment. Chances are, they will not have to look far - it seems restaurants are on every corner. Finding one usually is not difficult. Most often, the difficulty is in choosing one. Of course, some people are not so lucky. They have no choice, no burger shop just down the road - and no monetary means to visit it even if it was close. And rest assured, one never will hear these people speak in exaggerated terms … [Read more...]
And now – a reason to be proud about being Baptist
"I have never been prouder to be a Southern Baptist." Words in response to a particular action of the Southern Baptist Convention, or the Louisiana Baptist Convention? No. They are the words of a prison chaplain who has watched in amazement as volunteers from Louisiana Baptist churches have opened their lives, pocketbooks and time cards among the inmates of Louisiana State Prison at Angola. Words in response to a particular action of the Southern Baptist Convention, or the Louisiana Baptist Convention? No. They are the words of a prison chaplain who has watched in amazement as volunteers from Louisiana Baptist churches have opened their lives, pocketbooks and time cards among the inmates of Louisiana State Prison at Angola. Part of the purpose of our penal system is to remove from society people who have committed crimes. The Louisiana penal system does that well when it sends men to Angola. Angola is about as far from the rest of society as it could possibly be in our state. The vast prison ground is at the end of the road, figuratively and literally. State Highway 66 goes east off Highway 61 just south of Saint Francisville and dead-ends 20 miles later right in the middle of a giant … [Read more...]
A urgent call – Christians called to prayer for end to Indonesian violence
Southern Baptists have been called to urgent prayer for Christians suffering from Muslim extremist attacks in the Moluccas islands of Indonesia. More than 4,000 people - most of them Christians - have died in the fighting that broke out in January 1999 after a dispute between a Christian bus driver and a Muslim passenger. Southern Baptists have been called to urgent prayer for Christians suffering from Muslim extremist attacks in the Moluccas islands of Indonesia. More than 4,000 people - most of them Christians - have died in the fighting that broke out in January 1999 after a dispute between a Christian bus driver and a Muslim passenger. Since then, a minority of Muslims have declared a "jihad," or holy war, against all Christians in the islands, observers report. The minority is receiving support from Muslim radicals from other parts of Indonesia and other areas of the world. With 85 percent of its 210 million people following Islam, Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country. Even so, the population of the Moluccas is almost evenly split between Muslims and Christians. Since the conflict began, thousands of trained jihad warriors have … [Read more...]
Inmate finds hope for a better life
Howard Allan admits his life was a mess. He was going to places he should not have been, doing things he should not have done, with people he should not have associated with. He had decided he was going to change get back to the religious training his mother insisted he experience as a younger child. He had promised God he would. Howard Allan admits his life was a mess. He was going to places he should not have been, doing things he should not have done, with people he should not have associated with. He had decided he was going to change get back to the religious training his mother insisted he experience as a younger child. He had promised God he would. But before he got his journey back to Christian living in gear, there was that terrible night. In a place he should not have been, with young men he should have avoided, doing things they should not have been doing, a shot rang out and a man fell to the ground, dead. That was 20 years ago, when Howard was 17. Howard was convicted for that killing, although the one eye witness who testified against him now has recanted his testimony in an affidavit. Since his conviction of second degree murder, … [Read more...]
Every inmate can have a complete Bible
"The reward for doing a job well is to be chosen to do another job." That saying certainly is not Scripture, but it is definitely true. If you have any doubts, ask T.W. Terral, Director of Missions for Judson Baptist Association and the Baptists of the churches he serves. "The reward for doing a job well is to be chosen to do another job." That saying certainly is not Scripture, but it is definitely true. If you have any doubts, ask T.W. Terral, Director of Missions for Judson Baptist Association and the Baptists of the churches he serves. Judson Baptist Association responded well to the requests of Burl Cain, warden of Louisiana State Prison, Angola, as indicated by the major article about the Angola Prison ministry in this issue. When Warden Cain wanted something else to strengthen the spiritual atmosphere on the massive farm known as the largest land-area prison in America, he turned again to Terral and Judson Association. "The men tell me they appreciate the New Testaments they have," Cain told Terral. "But they also tell me they want the complete Bible." Different groups have distributed many New Testament, according to Terral, but … [Read more...]
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