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Weathersby discusses evangelism strategy By J. Gerald Harris, Editor Published July 17, 2008: The North American Mission Board has unveiled a national evangelism initiative called God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS). The goal is to fulfill the Great Commission in North America by 2020. The point man for this continental GPS is Ken Weathersby, senior strategist for evangelism at the Alpharetta-based agency.
God's remnant churches in the city By J. Gerald Harris, Editor Published July 17, 2008: The Christian Index published an article entitled “Temples in, churches out?” in the Nov. 8, 2007 issue. The article detailed the decline, departure, and death of more than four dozen Georgia Baptist churches inside the I-285 Perimeter since 1980.
Five vision trips slated for inside the Perimeter By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor Published July 17, 2008: The Urban Atlanta Impact Initiative, a consortium to increase church planting, evangelism, and leadership development inside the I-285 Perimeter, is sponsoring a series of one- and two-day tours in the coming weeks.
Gas crisis becomes missions opportunity By Kristen Marsh Published July 17, 2008: Every crisis creates opportunities, even for missions. For three hours on a hot summer afternoon in the Georgia mountains, residents recently caught a short break from America’s gasoline crisis.
Truett-McConnell, Shorter offering new degrees By Scott Barkley, Production Editor Published July 17, 2008: Starting this fall, Georgia Baptist college students at Shorter and Truett-McConnell will have another option as career choices go.
Land: Candidates should be free, not forced, to share their faith By Tom Strode Published July 17, 2008: Candidates for the White House and other offices should be free to say how their religious beliefs impact them but should not be expected to explain the specifics of their faith, Southern Baptist church-state specialist Richard Land said at a forum on religion in the 2008 election.
Why do we need a prayer conference? By Mark Sterling, Prayer and Spiritual Awakening Consultant, GBC Published July 17, 2008: I believe a prayer conference is needed for many reasons. One reason is to seek spiritual renewal in the Church. Churches needing spiritual renewal will not be renewed without prayer. I want to identify seven realities that are breaking our connection (prayer) with God and preventing spiritual renewal in the Church:
Cleaning St. Peter's requires a careful, acrobatic touch from select group By Francis X. Rocca, c. 2008 Religion News Service Published July 17, 2008: As the tomb of the first pope and the principal church of most of his 264 successors, St. Peter’s Basilica is Roman Catholicism’s greatest shrine. It’s also a treasure trove of artistic riches, with works by such artists as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini.
Retired missionaries gave 'enduring' service By Don Graham Published July 17, 2008: It may have seemed a bit awkward – and certainly dangerous – as far as baptisms go. But looking back over 34 years of missionary service, it’s a moment Bill Fudge can describe only as holy.
Georgia Baptist couple among 72 new IMB missionaries By Emilee Brandon, IMB, With additional reporting from Scott Barkley, Index production editor Published July 17, 2008: Journeyman Trevor Yoakum lay face down in mud on the side of a narrow highway in Nigeria. Gunfire exploded in his ears. Squealing tires followed and then the crunch of cars crashing.
Bob and Gloria Baxter honored for nearly half-century of ministry at Mt. Harmony Church Georgia Baptists’ longest serving pastor retires By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor Published July 17, 2008: It’s a significant accomplishment when a pastor spends nearly 60 years in the ministry. It’s rare when he spends almost half a century with one congregation.
North Korea: revival's residue remains Published July 17, 2008: In college, Yong* learned the questions to ask when meeting a foreigner: “What is your name? What do you do for a living? What is your religion?”
Student missionary dies in Peru bus accident UGA BCM member survives with minor injuries Published July 17, 2008: Gregory Gomez IV, 22, a student missionary serving in Peru for the summer through the International Mission Board, was killed in a bus accident July 5.
Germany meetings herald new era of cooperation By Mark Kelly Published July 17, 2008: Two “historic” meetings in Germany in May marked significant progress for the Southern Baptist initiative to develop a network of relationships among conservative evangelicals worldwide.
New church planter for Brookhaven Published July 17, 2008: As church planting missionary at Brookhaven Baptist, Mark Taylor’s ministry area will be Cosmos – young cosmopolitans – who are quickly moving into the community undergoing gentrification. Taylor and his wife, Ashley, relocated from Louisville, Ky.

Georgia NewsBriefs

Vacancies on 2008 Committee on Nominations Published July 17, 2008: Earlier this year, Convention President Bucky Kennedy announced the names of persons to serve on the 2008 Committee on Nominations.

Baptist News Summary

More than 3,000 churches represented at SBC meeting Published July 17, 2008: Official registration figures for the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention have been released by SBC registration secretary Jim Wells.
Pastor reads 68 books in a year Published July 17, 2008: Averaging more than a book per week, Southern Baptist pastor Mike Winters read 68 books during 2007.
Names in the News Published July 17, 2008

Religious NewsBriefs

Bibles to be available at China Olympics Published July 17, 2008: Despite controversy earlier this year, thousands of Bibles and gospel booklets will be distributed to athletes and visitors at this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing – with the approval of the Chinese government.
Princeton magazine illuminates Islamic culture Published July 17, 2008: Muslim culture features many prominent achievements in architecture, literature, and science. Yet awareness of these accomplishments is low, according to a group of Princeton University students.
Bush touts success of faith-based initiative Published July 17, 2008: President Bush on June 26 touted the successes of his initiative to partner faith-based and community organizations with government funds, calling it a key part of his presidency.
Russian Orthodox join U.S. Orthodox group Published July 17, 2008: For the first time in its 50-year history, an umbrella group of Eastern Orthodox Christian leaders now represents every American church in communion with the spiritual leader of world Orthodoxy.

People and Places

Obituaries Published July 17, 2008
Ordinations Published July 17, 2008
Retirements Published July 17, 2008
Ministerial Moves Published July 17, 2008

Cooperative Program Stories

At work on Sundays Churches see the benefits of evangelism, outreach emphasis By Sherri Brown, GBC Communications Published July 17, 2008: In the last census, there was barely more than a thousand people living in Maysville. But in this town with no red light, about 700 people worship at Maysville Church every Sunday morning – that’s about 200 more than last year.

Bible Study

Just How Heavenly is Heaven? By John Tarwater, Former assistant professor of Christian Studies, Truett-McConnell College Published July 17, 2008: Rev. 21:1-5, 22-27; 22:1-5
Related Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies for Life, July 27
A Focused Life By David Owen, Pastor, Piney Grove Baptist Church, Acworth Published July 17, 2008: Heb. 1:1-6, 10-14; 2:1-4
Related Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies for Life, Aug. 3

Columns

Christopher Wade Tyler's death gives life to others By J. Gerald Harris, Editor Published July 17, 2008: There are no finer Christian people in the known world than Cliff and Betty Tyler. I had the privilege of being their pastor at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta for over nine years. Cliff is on The Christian Index Board of Directors and has served as chairman of the board. He has been a faithful prayer partner for years.
Troubles in the village By Dick Staub, c. 2008 Religion News Service Published July 17, 2008: By now, everybody has probably heard the sad tale about the pregnant teens of Gloucester, Mass.
The Open Door By J. Robert White, Executive Director, GBC Published July 17, 2008: Recently I had the joy of representing Georgia Baptists at the Canadian National Baptist Convention meeting at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Don't ever take your anger out on your children By James Dobson Published July 17, 2008

Forum

Counseling eliminates marriage license fees By Michael H. Reynolds, Senior Pastor, Air Line Baptist, Gainesville Published July 17, 2008: In July 2005 Georgia legislators passed a law that allowed couples seeking marriage to receive six hours of appropriate marriage counseling from their pastor or other qualified counselor and be exempt from paying for their license. With divorce now reaching over 50% of all marriages this is a good incentive.
Agrees with Drace coments By Jeff Greer, Ringgold Published July 17, 2008: I wholeheartedly agree with Bro. Drace’s comments in “Observations of an evangelist ... revised” in the recent Index guest commentary, though he could have said much more.
Hiawassee reader challenges CBF presenter's comments By Tim Groza, Hiawassee Published July 17, 2008: This is in response to BP writer David Roach’s article “CBF presenter questions Christ’s deity at General Assembly” in the July 3 edition of The Index.
Takes issue with CBF presenter's comments By Don Broome, Cumming Published July 17, 2008: Me thinks John Killinger (“CBF presenter questions Christ’s diety,” July 3, Index) is more interested in selling his books than in obedience to the Christ, whose divine status he puts in serious doubt.
Regardless of man, God's Word is true By M. Lynn Britt, Social Circle Published July 17, 2008: I am a full-fledged Southern Baptist and have been since I was in RAs as a young boy. I have read your publication with interest for years. It is evident that you have (and are zealous about promoting) proper pride in what we as Southern Baptists believe, do, and are all about.

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