Archive Issue

News

Groundbreaking ushers in new era in Georgia Baptist ministry
Baptist Center to be occupied in Spring 2006
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published March 25, 2004

Georgia Baptists gathered in the heart of one of the state’s fastest growing counties on March 16 to break ground for a new Baptist Center.

Court of Appeals: Shorter College's action to dissolve cannot stand, is illegal
Verdict is in favor of Georgia Baptist Convention
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 25, 2004

The Georgia Court of Appeals rendered a decision on March 17 against Shorter College and its attempt to dissolve its relationship with the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Lives of slain Southern Baptist aid workers remembered by friends, family
Published March 25, 2004

Southern Baptists are mourning the loss of four workers and the wounding of a fifth in a drive-by shooting in Iraq.

David McDonnall gave his life in 'a collision between love and hate'
By Art Toalston
Published March 25, 2004

Pastor Michael Dean of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth recalled a visit with David and Carrie McDonnall in his office last fall as David wondered aloud about security concerns in Iraq and even whether he should buy a gun.

Watson remembered as one who 'sold out for Jesus'
By Erin Curry
Published March 25, 2004

“To obey is my objective. To suffer is expected. His glory will be my reward,” Karen Watson wrote in a letter to her pastor, meant only to be opened upon her death.

Elliots knew service in Iraq 'was God's calling'
By Michael Foust
Published March 25, 2004

For some 25 years Larry and Jean Elliott had served in Honduras, but they felt called to go elsewhere.

GAs gather at Camp Pinnacle to celebrate organization's 90th birthday
1,150 attend festivities at Pinnacle, Norman park
By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor
Published March 25, 2004

Nearly 600 GAs from throughout North Georgia spent the first day of spring frolicking at Camp Pinnacle as they celebrated the 90th birthday of their missions organization.

Religious NewsBriefs

Spanish youth rejecting Catholic Church
Published March 25, 2004

Despite Pope John Paul II’s efforts to reach out to young Catholics, Spanish youth are turning away from the church in droves, a new study says.

Religious activity outside church increases
Published March 25, 2004

An annual look at the nation’s religious behavior has found an increase in religious practice beyond the sanctuary, while church and Sunday school attendance has remained relatively stable.

Baylor president “outraged” by school newspaper’s pro-gay marriage editorial
Published March 25, 2004

Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan said he is “justifiably outraged” that the Baptist school’s newspaper published an editorial supporting gay marriage.

Boston Globe Passion cartoon causes uproar
Published March 25, 2004

A recent satirical cartoon in the Boston Globe depicting a Catholic nun beating a school-age Mel Gibson is stirring controversy among Globe readers, prompting many to cancel subscriptions in anger and disgust.

Disney, Walden Media to distribute C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia book series as movie
Published March 25, 2004

The Walt Disney Studios has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Walden Media to distribute the motion picture The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

People and Places

Ministerial Moves
Published March 25, 2004

Anniversaries
Published March 25, 2004

Obituaries
Published March 25, 2004

Groundbreakings
Published March 25, 2004

Ordinations
Published March 25, 2004

Retirements
Published March 25, 2004

Special Events
Published March 25, 2004

Revivals
Published March 25, 2004

Cooperative Program Stories

Retreat challenges teens for the journey
By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC
Published March 25, 2004

It’s not only about the destination, but it’s also about the journey. That was the theme of the three-day, girls-only retreat called “Journey.”

Bible Study

The Suffering Savior
By Wayne Bray, Pastor, Oak Hill Baptist Church, Millen
Published March 25, 2004

The dreadful scene of passion unfolds as His time has now fully come. Though the scene presented by our gospel text is disturbing to the human heart, this pain and shame of Jesus’ suffering and death were imperative to satisfy the great debt of sinful man.

The Risen Lord
By Wayne Bray, Pastor, Oak Hill Baptist Church, Millen
Published March 25, 2004

In a day of societal confusion and theological irresponsibility, the church possesses a challenging task to proclaim the truth to a reluctant and often hostile audience. Our postmodern culture believes in no foundational system of belief, leaving their worldview inconsistent with any harmonious relationship to reality. The present-day culture desires to persuade you toward a belief system that requires no belief at all, proving itself to be illogical on many fronts.

Columns

The painful process of doing what is right
By Gerald Harris, Editor
Published March 25, 2004

In my flesh I prefer the course of least resistance. It is easier to go with the flow than swim against the current. Likewise, it is difficult to be true to the truth when tolerance is the social norm, and it is not easy to take a stand in the face of public criticism.

God uses those with a dream
By Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback Church, Calif.
Published March 25, 2004

Nothing starts happening until somebody starts dreaming. Every accomplishment started off first as an idea in somebody’s mind.

The Open Door
By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC
Published March 25, 2004

What I know about litigation I have learned from three sources: Perry Mason, The Practice, and the Shorter College lawsuit against Georgia Baptists. The first two sources of knowledge have been entertaining, but the third has been anything but entertaining.

Seeds From The Sower
By Michael Guido
Published March 25, 2004

A mother asked a little girl, “ Did you behave yourself today?”

Kids need assistance to establish their own identities
By James Dobson
Published March 25, 2004

Forum

Laments the loss of Christian values in America
By Clyde Kendall, Jonesboro
Published March 25, 2004

We are fast losing our religious freedom in America. There are those who are endeavoring to remove every vestige of Christianity from our government, public education, the public arena and our society.