July 6, 2022
79° F
Clear
The voice of Georgia Baptists since 1822
Advanced search
Log in Subscribe
Top stories

Today in missions: Deadly crises like Somalia starved of aid

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — More than two dozen children have died of hunger in the past two months in a single hospital in Somalia. Dr. Yahye Abdi Garun has watched their emaciated parents stumble in from rural areas gripped by the driest drought in decades. And yet no humanitarian aid arrives.
Trending stories
 Bone cancer, brain hemorrhage not stopping 'God's man' Tony Dickerson
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Tony Dickerson makes his way into the pulpit, his voice unmistakable in its rhythm and intensity. “I want to tell you friends, God is in this place,” he declares with a boldness that fills the auditorium at Pinehurst Baptist Church. “And don’t you for one minute doubt it. He is here, and we are going to have a meeting with Him.” People settle into their seats, eager to be taken on an adventure through the Bible by the pastor who has been serving the same Columbus church for the past 50 years, an almost unheard of tenure.
WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in state at US Capitol
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin announced at a memorial on Sunday where Williams was remembered for his courage, humility and selflessness.
Southern Baptist chaplains serve soldiers, refugees during Ukraine crisis
As Americans celebrate July 4, thousands of members of the U.S. Armed Services are sacrificing to maintain peace and defend the freedom that the United States and many other nations enjoy, and chaplains are there with them, providing the spiritual support they want and need. In early 2022 the reality of an impending Russian invasion of the Ukraine reverberated throughout the United States Armed Services community and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. By the end of January, U.S. forces were put on high alert to provide support to NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
Impact of Roe v. Wade's reversal appears weeks away, maybe longer, in Georgia
DULUTH, Ga. – Abortions continue in Georgia nearly a week after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized the procedure 50 years ago. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr filed a brief in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, asking that the state’s law banning abortions after a heartbeat is detected be allowed to take effect immediately. Instead, the 11th Circuit gave lawyers three weeks to file written briefs addressing how the Supreme Court decision impacts the “heartbeat law.”
‘Cooperation is not only biblical, it's necessary if we're going to reach Georgia’
Here in Georgia, we are unchanging in our resolve to keep the gospel as our main focus. Resourcing and equipping churches to reach the 8 million lost people in our state is the mission we act upon every single day. That's what's on your heart, and that's what's on our heart, because that's what's on God's heart. This mission is why Georgia Baptists acted quickly to address critical issues over the past few years.
Baptist Life

Georgia church leaders celebrate Supreme Court ruling in favor of praying football coach

DULUTH, Ga. – Church leaders in Georgia celebrated Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision siding with a high school football coach who kneeled and prayed on the field after games as a great win for all believers. Justices ruled 6-3 in favor of the Coach Joseph Kennedy of Washington state, saying his prayer was protected by the First Amendment.

Read more Baptist Life stories

NASHVILLE (BP) – The theme and the officers for the 2023 SBC Pastors’ Conference have been announced by conference president Daniel Dickard. The theme for the conference, scheduled for June 11-12 in New Orleans, will be “Character Matters in Ministry: Beatitudes of a Pastor.” Eight speakers will preach through the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5.
On Sunday, July 3, 2022, as the nation prepared to celebrate its 246th birthday, Hebron Baptist Church celebrated its 180th. Members gathered for celebrations that included worship, a sermon by former Pastor Larry Wynn, a panel discussion by current and former pastors, and a fellowship meal.
ATLANTA – On July 1st, Christianity Today published an article entitled “Fewer Churches Put Patriotism on Display for July 4.” The article quoted a LifeWay Research study of 1,000 U. S. Protestant pastors which indicated that two in 5 pastors (42%) did not see the importance of incorporating patriotic elements into worship services the week of July 4th.
SAN DIEGO (BP) – Serving in the military is “noble and good,” says Justin Woods, but it’s not enough for some of the midshipmen at the 4,400-student U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. A cadre of the 150 students involved with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the Naval Academy have been going on mission to San Diego each summer for the last five years. There were 22 students on the team this summer.
Georgia

Murder conviction overturned for man who shot wife in SUV

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s highest court has thrown out a murder conviction for a once-prominent Atlanta attorney who fatally shot his wife as they rode in an SUV. The unanimous opinion says the jury should have had the option of a misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter charge. Seventy-nine-year-old Claud “Tex” McIver was convicted in 2018 of felony murder, aggravated assault, influencing a witness and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the September 2016 killing of his wife, 64-year-old Diane McIver.

New census data shows how Georgia changed from 2020 to 2021

ATLANTA – Georgia’s population increased between July 2020 and July 2021, according to annual data from the Census Bureau. The state’s 2021 population was roughly 10.8 million, an increase of almost 74,000 residents, or about 0.7%, over 2020. 

Gov. Brian Kemp extends suspension of Georgia gas taxes through mid-August

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's governor is extending the suspension of the state's motor fuel tax through mid-August. Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday signed an executive order extending the suspension for a second time. The order also suspends the state sales tax on locomotive fuel.

New Georgia laws aim at schools; some laws already in effect

ATLANTA (AP) — Most new laws traditionally take effect in Georgia on July 1. But this year, many of the most important measures became law as soon as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed them. A few of the General Assembly’s most consequential accomplishments won’t take effect until January or even later.

More Georgia news

Nation

Court battles continue across South in wake of Roe decision

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Attorneys on Tuesday argued over abortion laws in three Southern states in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave states the power to limit or outlaw abortion. In Mississippi, the state’s only abortion clinic is trying to remain open by blocking a law that would ban most abortions in the state.

Police: Gunman fired more than 70 rounds at July 4 parade

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) — Police say the gunman who attacked an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago fired more than 70 rounds with an AR-15-style rifle and killed at least six people. He then evaded initial capture by dressing as a woman and blending into the fleeing crowd. The details emerged Tuesday as FBI agents were peeking into trash cans and under picnic blankets during the search for more evidence in Highland Park, an affluent and close-knit community on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Immigration detention facility near empty in California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A detention center in the wind-swept California desert town of Adelanto could house nearly 2,000 migrants facing the prospect of deportation. These days, it’s nearly empty. The facility is an extreme example of how the U.S. government’s use of guaranteed minimum payments in contracts with private companies to house immigrant detainees can have a potential financial downside.

Judge set to hear challenge of Mississippi abortion law

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A judge is considering a lawsuit filed by Mississippi’s only abortion clinic, which is trying to remain open by blocking a law that would ban most abortions in the state. The Jackson Women’s Health Organization sought a temporary restraining order that would allow it to remain open, at least while the lawsuit remains in court

Read more national news

World

2 key UK Cabinet ministers quit Boris Johnson's government

LONDON (AP) — Two of Britain’s most senior Cabinet ministers have quit in a move that could spell the end of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership after months of scandals. Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned within minutes of each other Tuesday.

New Hong Kong leader John Lee stresses balance in easing quarantine

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s new leader John Lee says he will work on easing restrictions for travelers while balancing the risks of a coronavirus outbreak overwhelming the health care system. He spoke at his first news conference since becoming Hong Kong's chief executive. Hong Kong and mainland China are among the few places in the world that still quarantine arrivals.

China sees record rains, heat as weather turns volatile

BEIJING (AP) — From the snowcapped peaks of Tibet to the tropical island of Hainan, China is sweltering under the worst heatwave in decades while rainfall hit records in June. Extreme heat is also battering Japan, and volatile weather is causing trouble for other parts of the world. The China Meteorological Administration says the northeastern provinces of Shandong, Jilin and Liaoning saw precipitation rise to the highest levels recorded in June.

Hurricane Bonnie steams westward off Mexico's Pacific coast

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A strengthened Hurricane Bonnie is moving in the Pacific roughly parallel to Mexico's southern coast, after crossing over Central America from the Caribbean, dropping heavy rain and contributing to two deaths. Forecasters say they expect the hurricane to pose no threat to land as it moves generally westward farther out into the Pacific.

Read more world news

Perspectives
My initial reaction to photos showing women using their children at pro-abortion protests was anger. But then the Lord broke my heart.
People watch us and notice what we do. You never know who is watching; thus, we should always be on our best behavior. 
Community newspapers are dying at the rate of two per week in the U.S. Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications delivered that sobering news in a report this week. And it is indeed sobering because newspapers play such a crucial role in our culture, serving as mirrors of sorts that allow us to see ourselves – warts, blemishes and all.
Editor's note: With tensions high following the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, here are recommendations from Brotherhood Mutual, a major insurer of churches, on how to handle demonstrations on church grounds.
Living Hope Supportive Maternal Residence, the first residence registered in accordance with “Betsy’s Law,” opened Tuesday. Pregnant women can stay at the home up to 18 months after their child is born, receiving support, care and a comfortable and safe place to live.

Read more perspectives

Business

US indexes shake off an early slump and eke out gains

Major stock indexes shook off an early slump and ended with meager gains on Wall Street Tuesday as worries about the economy continue to weigh on markets. Oil prices slumped, bringing the price of U.S. crude back below $100 a barrel for the first time since early May. Tech stocks staged a turnaround and ended higher.

Many won't rely on virtual options after COVID: AP-NORC poll

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new poll shows that many Americans don’t expect to rely on the digital services that became commonplace during the pandemic after COVID-19 subsides, even though many think it’s a good thing if those options remain available in the future. The poll comes from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Inflation hits record 8.6% for 19 countries using the euro

LONDON (AP) — Inflation in countries using the euro set another eye-watering record, pushed higher by a huge increase in energy costs fueled partly by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Annual inflation in the eurozone’s 19 countries hit 8.6% in June, surging past the 8.1% recorded in May.

Stocks slump, closing out worst quarter since early 2020

Stocks fell again on Wall Street Thursday, closing out the worst quarter for the market since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. The S&P 500 index lost 0.9%. It's now down 21% since hitting a record high at the beginning of the year, having entered a bear market earlier in June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% and the Nasdaq fell 1.3%.

Delta pays $10.5 million to settle post office allegations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $10.5 million to settle charges it falsified information about deliveries of international mail, including mail sent to U.S. soldiers overseas. The Justice Department said Thursday that Delta was under contract to the Postal Service when it falsified records about deliveries from 2010 to 2016.

Read more business news

Sports

Riley homers, Anderson shines as Braves beat Cards 7-1

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley homered and drove in three runs, Ian Anderson allowed one run in a bounce-back start, and the Atlanta Braves beat the struggling St. Louis Cardinals 7-1. Riley hit a two-run homer and William Contreras also went deep in the first inning.

Braves have moment of silence in memory of announcer Motter

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves paid tribute to their longtime public address announcer, Casey Motter, on Monday night in a ceremony before the team’s first home game since his death last week. Following a video tribute to Motter, a moment of silence was observed in his memory before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Swanson's 3-run double helps Braves outlast Cardinals, 6-3

Dansby Swanson hit a three-run double in a five-run second inning and the Atlanta Braves held off the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 in a game delayed more than 2 1/2 hours by rain. St. Louis loaded the …

Almora's bases-loaded walk-off single lifts Reds over Braves

CINCINNATI (AP) — Albert Almora Jr. slapped a bases-loaded single past a drawn-in infield in the ninth to give the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. “I …

Read more sports news

© Copyright 2022 The Christian Index | Copyright/Terms of Use
Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions