Front Page

Photo courtesy of IMB

A quake survivor searches for a missing family member, digging with a shovel while a hired bulldozer removes the rubble of his home.

Iran earthquake survivors see ‘God with us’: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–Survivors of a devastating earthquake in Bam, Iran, are seeing the love of God demonstrated through the work of Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers from Alabama who traveled to the scene to help.
Nation’s first faith-based prison opens in Florida: LAWTEY (FBW)—According to Lawtey Correctional Institute chaplain William Wright, the success of America’s first faith-based prison is dependent on the willingness of volunteers to participate. Prison officials are appealing to individuals and churches for help in guiding the spiritual lives of almost 800 prisoners who have chosen to be housed at Lawtey.
‘Join the Celebration’ theme of 150th Anniversary rallies: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Fourteen regional rallies across the state will bring dynamic speakers and gifted musicians to inspire Florida Baptists as they kick off the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Florida Baptist State Convention this year.

Opinion

Guest Editorial

Guest Editorial: The question of homosexual marriage presents the American people with an inescapable moral challenge. The words homosexual and marriage are inherently contradictory. The very fact that these terms are in public conflict demonstrates the radical character of the social revolutionaries that now demand the legalization of homosexual marriage.

Point-of-View

Point-of-View: For the holiness of God to translate into the priorities of the Florida Baptist Convention, there are certain pre-suppositions:
Point-of-View: Epicureans within our nation (and around the world for that matter) recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Playboy magazine. A liberal media that has repeatedly demonstrated a disdain for biblical morality was more than willing to aid and abet the celebration. Secularists have anointed its founder Hugh Hefner as a moral liberator who single-handedly set in motion the movement to free both male and female Americans from their sexual inhibitions. But there is a dark side to sexual promiscuity that the media seldom reports.
Point-of-View: The late Carl Sagan wrote in his book Cosmos, "Many years ago, so the story goes, a celebrated newspaper publisher sent a telegram to a noted astronomer: ‘Wire collect five hundred words on whether there is life on Mars.’ The astronomer dutifully replied: Nobody knows, Nobody knows, Nobody knows — 250 times.

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

Retired firefighter takes 19 mission trips in 6 years: LAKELAND (FBC)—Six years. Nineteen mission trips. And the number is growing.
Historical Vignette: Spanish Army spy turned Irish preacher once pastored FBC JAX: The third and fourth associations in Florida were begun the same year. The West Florida Association and the Alachua Association were begun in 1847. It was at Fort Clark that the Alachua Association was organized.
‘Rookie Rescuer’ write-in workbook: FORT PIERCE (FBW) — Children interested in firefighting and rescue adventures may now read stories and Bible studies in a new workbook, Sirens for the Cross for the Rookie Rescuer. Written by Florida firefighter/paramedic Tommy Neiman with Sue Reynolds, the workbook incorporates stories from his experiences with the Saint Lucie County Fire District in Fort Pierce.
Schiavo attorney seeks modification of visitation rules: ST. PETERSBURG (FBW)-A lawyer acting on behalf of Michael Schiavo, the husband of a 40-year-old brain damaged woman in Florida, has petitioned the court for even more stringent restrictions on visitors than those already in place.
Brazilian spurns limelight by doing ‘the little things’ for God: Orlando (FBC)—If you were to see Ed Vilela in action today, you would see a man praying over the pews in his church, translating for his fellow Brazilians in the hospital, opening his home to those needing a place to stay, discipling young believers.
Seven students from Florida receive degrees from SWBTS: FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS)—Seven students claiming Florida as their home state graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, during fall commencement Dec. 12, 2003.
NOBTS grads with Florida ties honored: NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS)—New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary held its eighty-sixth annual graduation exercises Dec. 20, 2003, in Leavell Chapel on the seminary campus. After a presentation of musical worship by Leo Day, assistant professor of voice, Charles S. Kelley, Jr., NOBTS president, presented the charge to the graduates, then conferred degrees on 168 graduates, 12 with Florida ties.

Training Update

Training Update

National

Public Policy

Equipping for pro-life cause among key ERLC aims, Land says: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Whether it’s the struggle in Florida to keep Terri Schiavo alive or the rulings by two federal courts to stay the ban on partial-birth abortion that made the legislative victory short-lived, the matter of the preciousness of human life is headline material.
Debate squad forfeits tournament: RIVERSIDE, Calif. (BP)–Four California Baptist University students chose to forfeit the chance to win a debate tournament rather than argue that the Supreme Court should reverse a ban on partial-birth abortion.
Poll suggests opinion shift over marriage: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Perhaps reflecting a shift in public opinion, a new Zogby International poll shows that a majority of Massachusetts’ likely voters affirm the traditional definition of marriage and are split even on the controversial Nov. 18 court decision.

National News Brief

Baptist identity topic of conference hosted by Union University in April: JACKSON, Tenn. (UU)–The impact of post-denominationalism on Baptist identity will be the focus of a national conference hosted by Union University and sponsored by the university’s Carl F.H. Henry Center for Christian Leadership and the R.G. Lee Center for Christian Ministry.
Ga. pastor tapped to lead NAMB’s chaplaincy evangelism: ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–A longtime Georgia pastor and former military chaplain has been named director of chaplaincy evangelism for the North American Mission Board.
Dodge withdraws from Feb. 1 ‘Lingerie Bowl’: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–After being bombarded with criticism from consumers and morality advocates, Dodge will no longer sponsor a pay-per-view football game featuring scantily clad models during halftime of the Super Bowl Feb. 1.
IMB establishes toll-free line for abuse victims: RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–In response to recent concerns expressed by victims who were sexually abused on the mission field 30 years ago, the International Mission Board has created a hotline to help any victims of similar situations report their abusers and get help for their trauma.

Feature

Prison Ministry

Purpose-Driven prison church sheds ‘yard’ violence: JAMESTOWN, Calif. (BP)–If you were to walk onto "the yard" at the Sierra Conservation Center, a prison in Jamestown, Calif., you would soon notice the standard foot attire. No one dares go to the yard without his prison boots. Since the possibility of a fight between rival gangs and ethnic groups breaking out at any moment is high, every prisoner needs his boots for extra mobility and protection. In fact, a prisoner who walks out without his boots might be disciplined by those in his gang.
COMMENTARY: What happened when the ‘most powerful’ visited the ‘most powerless’: Angel Tree, our Prison Fellowship program for prisoners’ children, is one of the great unheralded volunteer outreaches in America. Over the Christmas holidays these past few weeks, approximately 100,000 volunteers delivered Angel Tree gifts to more than 525,000 children of inmates.
Interdivisional council focuses on Florida prison ministries: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—An interdivisional council among the Florida Baptist Convention staff is finding ways to help Florida Baptists effectively administer Christ’s love to imprisoned criminals—an often forgotten segment of society.
Resources: Resources available for Prison Ministry

Student Ministry

Fun & discipleship win out over shame at Ski Xplosion

GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)–Chris Geno took the ride of shame.

Geno, 20, of Living Waters Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, got his skis pointed the wrong way as he barreled down the mountainside. His trip ended abruptly in a first-class wipeout.

First Priority, churches partner for student-to-student outreach

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP)–A strategy to train students to lead each other is more important than ever for reaching America’s public schools for Christ, the founder and president of the First Priority campus ministry says.

Media Montage

Longwood pastor explores Spurgeon's leadership: He never attended seminary nor even was ordained to the ministry. Yet Charles Haddon Spurgeon became one of history’s leading pastor-evangelists.
Ormond Beach band releases first CD with national label: ORMOND BEACH (FBW) – It was Christmas 1995 when 17-year-old Nathan Hargrave received his first set of drums from his parents. He began to "piddle around with them a little," as his mom, Marki, put it.
New book explores persecution by ‘liberals’: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Christmas got the boot from New York City public schools, but Jewish, Islamic and Kwanzaa celebrations and symbols got a free pass.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 1 — Disciplined Worship: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
February 8 — Disciplined Prayer: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

February 1 — Be Wise About Relationships: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.
February 8 — Be Wise About Alcohol: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.