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The historic city of Bam, Iran, in less tragic days. An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale devastated the city and surrounding region Dec. 26. Southern Baptist volunteers headed to Bam to help. Click here for a Web-only exclusive on how the International Mission Board is helping.

Florida case draws international attention as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday nears

CLEARWATER (FBW)–Drawing an international spotlight to Florida in 2003, the case of 40-year-old disabled woman Terri Schiavo continues to sustain momentum as right-to-die advocates and right-to-life proponents square off in what has become one more stake in the battle over the sanctity of human life.

Southern Baptists to vote to end ties with Baptist World Alliance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A recommendation that the Southern Baptist Convention withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance has been made by a study committee of the SBC Executive Committee.

Theological concerns were cited as the core reason for the recommendation by the nine-member panel.

11-year-old Florida boy spearheads Pledge petition

MILTON (FBW)-When 11-year-old Tanner Lunsford, a member of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton, visited Washington, D.C., on a family vacation last fall, he noticed that many of the monuments quoted Bible verses. Not long after they returned to their Panhandle home, controversy erupted over the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Opinion

Editorial

Editorial

It’s that time of year again when, on the occasion of the New Year, many of us resolve to amend our behavior, attempt new things and improve personal habits. Yes, those dreaded New Year’s resolutions.

There’s something about turning the calendar to the next year that causes us to reflect on things we would like to change about our lives. This is good. Personal reflection is required for Christians who are committed to continually becoming better followers of Christ.

Point-of-View

Point-of-View

The necessity of strong and focused evangelistic leadership is critical for the growth of the church. The church is not gaining ground and it is time to reclaim lost ground within our communities. Everything of the church centers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our ministry must be Christ—centered and Christ—honoring.

Point-of-View

When Joshua Davey enrolled at Northwest College, he probably never dreamed that his decision would lead him to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Davey arrived at Northwest with a scholarship given to Washington state residents who show academic promise. When he declared pastoral studies as his major, the scholarship was withdrawn.

Letters

Letters

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Seminary workshops to feature interactive TV

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptists can pursue a theological education while remaining close to home. The Convention’s Department of Theological Education and Distance Learning, working in cooperation with the Baptist College of Florida and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, is offering theological education classes several locations and in various degree programs.

Spring 2004 schedule of classes for theological training

Chinese, Brazilian churches join others

According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 17 new churches from Oct. through Dec. 2003.

40 Days of Purpose leads to new church ministries

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final article in a two-part series highlighting the involvement of Florida churches in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign.]

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—From South Florida to the Panhandle, people have gained new insights after being involved in 40 Days of Purpose, a campaign which involves a study of The Purpose Driven Life, a New York Times bestseller authored by pastor Rick Warren.

Historical Vignette: Florida Baptist Association: Sunshine State’s oldest group of churches

The first Baptist association in Florida was the Suwannee Association organized at Providence Church in Columbia County in 1835. However this association changed its name to the Suwannee River Primitive Baptist Association in 1847. The name change came because of a leadership crisis in the anti-missionary movement of the time. Many missionary churches had been excluded from the association.

Kinchen urges BCF graduates not to become a decoy

GRACEVILLE (BCF)—It may not seem that quacking creatures we call "ducks" have much in common with Christianity, but Baptist College of Florida President Thomas A. Kinchen would argue that they are sometimes very similar, and warned this year’s fall graduates to guard both their churches and their own hearts against the trap.

SEBTS celebrates fall graduation

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (SEBTS)— Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated its Fall 2003 commencement ceremonies Dec. 13, with 158 students graduating from its graduate and undergraduate programs. Those pictured are graduates from the state of Florida. Listed are their names, degrees attained and hometowns.

Southern names grads with Florida ties

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–There is both glory and grief in the Christian ministry, R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said at the fall graduation ceremony Dec. 12.

Preaching from Luke 2:22-35 at the seminary’s 192nd commencement, Mohler said there is much glory in the ministry when the Gospel is preached, sinners are saved and believers are nourished in the faith. And the glory does not belong to the minister, but to God.

Florida DCF secretary speaks at PBAU Fall commencement

WEST PALM BEACH (PBAU)—Jerry Regier, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, challenged Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates Saturday to be builders, noting that it takes time, skill and commitment to build.

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

Evangelist: Iraq more hopeful than reported by U.S. media

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist evangelist Anis Shorrosh, in a recent visit to Baghdad, said he found the rebuilding process in Iraq to be more positive and productive than what is being portrayed in much of the American media.

Shorrosh, based in Fairhope, Ala., but originally from Nazareth, Israel, left Nov. 16 for the Middle East to provide encouragement to Iraqi Christians and to share the Gospel.

Evangelism

Ministry multipliers compared to boy with fish & loaves

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–LifeWay’s ministry multipliers have something in common with the boy who gave his bread and fish to Jesus to feed the 5,000, a theology professor said.

"You may minister in anonymity, but not in obscurity," said Ergun Caner, professor of theology and church history at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

The ‘scales’ tipped the balance toward Christ for Muslim boy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–For a young Muslim boy, at the end of the day it was all about the scales – how his good deeds compared to his bad deeds.

"Every Muslim child learns about the scales," said Ergun Caner, professor of theology and church history at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., who grew up a devout Muslim. "The scales are terrifying. The Koran says if your scales are heavy, you will live in paradise, but if your scales are light, you will find perdition. You have to be 51 percent righteous to get to paradise."

New church planting book: comprehensive yet contemporary

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–A comprehensive new book on church planting provides not only the nuts and bolts of starting new churches in a variety of settings, but also a basic foundation for why new churches should be central to any evangelism plan.

Feature

Sanctity of Human Life

COMMENTARY: Painful death ahead: Cancer victim speaks out

It was New Year’s Day, but Sidney Cohen cared nothing about the year ahead. He longed to be killed. He had been diagnosed with cancer less than two months before, when his physician told him he could expect to die a painful death within three months. He was "bed bound by pain and weakness, having been able to drink only water for six weeks." He was "desperate, isolated, and frightened." He said, "I truly wished that euthanasia could have been administered."

Legislature pressed to act in defense of life in case of Terri Schiavo

TAMPA (FBW)—In a state where a death sentence can be appealed again and again, it didn’t sit well with members of both chambers of the legislature that Terri Schiavo faced imminent death unless drastic measures were taken to remedy the situation.

Advance Directives and Living Wills

The following is an excerpt of a brochure, "The Sanctity of Human Life: A Time To Live, A Time To Die: Advance Directives and Living Wills," published by the Christian Life Commission, now the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

COMMENTARY: What is the Unborn?

Conner Peterson made us do it. Conner forced us to consider that unborn children are human beings and not just potential human life. Conner and his mother, Laci, were killed Christmas 2002, but Conner accomplished great things through his life. Conner awakened a giant. Across the nation people looked for them, prayed for their return and grieved after their murders.

Sanctity of Human Life Resources

Media Montage

Mel Gibson grants Billy Graham advance look at ‘Passion’

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP)–Billy Graham watched a special showing of Mel Gibson’s "The Passion of Christ" and spoke with the Hollywood star about the decade-long spiritual journey that led to the film, according to a news release from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Journal: Pastoral Epistles ‘antidote’ to postmodern relativism

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Instructions for ministry in a postmodern culture as gleaned from the Pastoral Epistles – 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus – are the focus of the latest Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, published by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

January 18 — God Values Human Life

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

January 25 — God Works in His Time

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

January 18 — Wisdom of Protecting Human Life

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.

January 25 — Be Wise about Family

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.