Front Page

Florida Lottie Moon offerings look promising: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Dozens of Florida Baptist churches are tallying record Lottie Moon Offerings, some doubling and even tripling their goals. They are part of what could prove to be a national trend of record-setting giving to the annual mission offering.
Pastor empowers team-led multi-ethnic ministry: FORT LAUDERDALE (FBC)-It is a pastor’s worst nightmare–to be in danger of losing his voice. But that’s what happened to Guy Melton when nodules developed on his vocal chords.

Opinion

Editorial

Editorial: As Southern Baptist churches in Florida turn their hearts and minds to the matter of the sanctity of human life this coming Lord’s Day, it’s appropriate to consider where things stand as a matter of law in the Sunshine State. How friendly or unfriendly is Florida law when it comes to protecting the unborn and providing pro-life alternatives to women with unplanned pregnancies?

Point-of-View

Point-of-View: I believe that a church should provide a seminary-like experience for lay members who want more intensive theological study. I was able to put this concept in place in three of the churches that God allowed me to serve as pastor. In one setting, we even offered Hebrew and Greek classes for laypersons.
Point-of-View: "Paul, can you come to the lobby? There are two teenage girls down here who need someone to talk with." Paul Jones led the Christian Life Commission for Mississippi Baptists, based in the Baptist Building in Jackson. When the receptionist paged him, he had no way of knowing he was about to have one of those experiences that confirm all over again the nearness and reality of a great and gracious God.
Point-of-View: The stewardship to missions giving that Southern Baptists exhibit will determine our impact upon the world. If churches do not believe that we can change the world from where we are, then we will not change the world that surrounds us. The challenge for the local church to capture a global vision is crucial for evangelizing contemporary culture.
Point-of-View: ATLANTA (BP)–God has a significant encouragement in His Word: "Be still—and know—that I AM God! ... the Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (Psalm 46:10,11).
Point-of-View: Can God use accidents and embarrassing pauses? He did in the life of one prominent professor.

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher: Have fun with cryptography and exercise your Bible knowledge. A King James Version verse is encoded by letter substitution. The same letter is substituted throughout the puzzle. Solve by trial and error.

Florida

Florida News

Teens mentor through servant leadership disciplines: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Sit-ups, push-ups, leg-lifts and stretches prepare a group of teenagers and college students to run "the triangle" around their church property. Gathered in a circle to begin with prayer, a young man petitions God to help them serve and encourage each other as they learn to lead others.
Souper Bowl of Caring funds can meet hunger needs worldwide: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptist churches participating in the nationwide emphasis, "Souper Bowl of Caring" on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, can send contributions to meet Florida Baptist world hunger needs.
Billy Graham recuperating from surgery: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Evangelist Billy Graham underwent successful partial hip replacement surgery Jan. 6 in Jacksonville after a fall in his hotel room on the grounds of the Mayo Clinic.
Judge refuses to reappoint Schiavo guardian ad litem: CLEARWATER (FBW)-Citing pending litigation over the constitutionality of a law which provided a brain damaged woman a guardian ad litem, a circuit judge turned down a request Jan. 9 by Gov. Jeb Bush to reappoint the dismissed man to that role.

Florida News Brief

Former state exec., Hubbs, dies in Orlando: ORLANDO (FBW)-Fred D. Hubbs, 80, retired pastor and state convention executive, died Jan. 3 in Orlando. He had served as pastor of Arlington Baptist Church, Jacksonville, 1976-1984, and more recently, as co-pastor of First Baptist Church, Garden Grove. He was appointed in 1952 as director of missions for Southern Baptists in Michigan and served as its first executive director until 1971. During his tenure in Michigan, Hubbs was elected first vice-president of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1966-67. He also served the Baptist State Convention of Missouri as associate executive director.
Emeritus missionary to Portugal dies at 84: DELAND (IMB) -- Samuel G. Shepard, an emeritus Southern Baptist missionary to Portugal, died Dec. 22.
Perspectives to teach about global missions: JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, a 15-week study course on global missions, is underway in several Florida communities. Southern Baptist agencies, including the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, are among the inter-denominational course sponsors.
Florida "Choose Life" tags top 39,400: JACKSONVILLE (FBW) Florida drivers are among those in 12 states who have the opportunity to benefit adoption-related services through the purchase of "Choose Life" license plates. Twenty dollars of the cost of the Florida plates goes to fund counseling for pregnant women.
Avon Park to host one-day grant writing workshop Jan. 22: AVON PARK (FBW) — Faith-based organizations such as churches, Christian schools, and community-based ministries and organization are invited to a Jan. 22 workshop at First Baptist Church in Avon Park.

Florida Focus

Florida Focus: A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version.

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

N.J. gov. signs bill allowing cloning, stem cell research: TRENTON, N.J. (BP)–New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey signed into law Jan. 4 a bill that allows therapeutic human cloning and gives parents the option of donating unwanted embryos to stem cell research.
First Baptist Dallas surpasses $1 million: DALLAS (BP)–First Baptist Church of Dallas has announced that members of the storied congregation have given more than $1 million through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, more than four times its gift last year and twice as large as the biggest sum ever sent through Lottie Moon to fund Southern Baptists’ work abroad.
Lewis Drummond, former seminary head, dies at 77: WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)–Lewis A. Drummond, denominational statesman and former president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, died of a heart attack Jan. 4 in Asheville, N.C., as a complication from treatment for cancer. He was 77.

Missions News

Major SBC effort to focus on taking Gospel to NYC in ‘04: NEW YORK (BP)–When missionary Jeremiah Lamphier started a prayer meeting in lower Manhattan in 1857, it sparked a spiritual awakening that eventually spread across the world. Leaders of Southern Baptists’ New Hope New York effort – along with thousands of prayer warriors across the country – are hoping to see God move in similar ways over the next two years.
Pasadena's Rose Parade prompts innovative evangelism: PASADENA, Calif. (BP)–Jessica Terena, 14, sat in a folded camping chair with her family. They were snuggling to keep warm and trying to find ways to entertain themselves while waiting for the coming morning’s Pasadena Rose Parade.

International News

Sudan: Thousands of Christians uprooted by authorities: DAKAR, Senegal (BP)–Thousands of Sudanese families have been uprooted by authorities in an ongoing urban re-planning exercise, Compass Direct news service reported Dec. 29. More than 10 makeshift Christian churches and a church-operated vocational training center also have been demolished in and around a sprawling camp for displaced persons.
India's Christian and Muslim ‘untouchables’ refused benefits: NEW DELHI, India (BP)–The government of India has rejected a demand that social benefits be extended to Dalit Christians and Muslims, compounding the problems faced by the most downtrodden social class in India, Compass Direct news service reported Dec. 30.

National News Brief

Missionary Mary Pham dies after cancer battle: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (IMB)- Van Thi Dao "Mary" Pham, an International Mission Board missionary to the Philippines, died Dec. 27 in Birmingham, Ala., after a battle with cancer. She was 50.
Cooperative Program giving up 6.88 percent: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program are up 6.88 percent compared to the same time frame in 2002, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.

Feature

Family Matters

Grandparents indeed can be ‘grand’ for their grandkids: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–While many of the approximately 50 million grandparents in the United States are playing an increasing role in American families, many more have little contact with their grandchildren. Finding ways to bring the generations together can mean great benefits for both young and old.
Dorothy Patterson hopeful for 2004 int’l meeting on the family: FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–At a time when the basic element of human society is under attack, Dorothy Patterson is active in an international organization dedicated to protecting "the cornerstone of society."
Grandparents can make family stories: QUESTION: I am a grandmother who is blessed to have 14 grandchildren. I often take care of them and love just having them over. However, I would like to do more for them than just baby-sit. What can I do to really make an impact on their lives?

Media Montage

Tampa pastor pens devotions on theological tenets

TAMPA (BP)–Paul Enns was concerned about a growing problem he witnessed: Christians who are uninformed of the basic beliefs of the faith and, at the same time, not interested in reading a book of theology.

COMMENTARY: Lured by the Rings: The ‘old, old story’ Christians know well

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–I confess. I am a Tolkien fanatic.

Next to the Bible, I have read The Lord of the Rings through more times (over 20) than any other book. I remember the first time I took up The Hobbit at the age of 14, reading it in a single night under my blankets with my dad’s trusty railroad flashlight.

Sanctity of Life TV program to air Jan. 19 - 23

DALLAS (FN)—FamilyNet will air Hope Restored, a special five-part series for Sanctity of Life Week, Monday through Friday evenings, Jan. 19-23, at 8 p.m. CST. The Friday program will feature a panel of professional counselors who will take live calls from viewers.

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.