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FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Florida Baptists gave a record amount to the 2003 Maguire State Mission Offering to fund mission and ministry needs in the state. The offering underwrites Florida Baptist mission camps, where boys, like camp counselor Theodore Foster (l) of Jacksonville, inspire others to become involved in a mission lifestyle.

State mission offering sets new giving record: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Gifts to the Maguire State Mission Offering reached an all-time high in 2003, totaling $1,025,828 and surpassing the previous record set in 2001 by $3,000.
Land: Bush failed to ‘take final step’ on marriage: WASHINGTON (BP)–President Bush neared the verge of endorsing a constitutional amendment protecting marriage but stopped short in his Jan. 20 State of the Union speech, leaving at least some pro-family advocates unsatisfied.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering sets record, but misses goal by 7 percent: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–Southern Baptists set another record in giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in 2003. Robert E. (Bob) Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, announced Jan. 10 during the annual meeting of Woman’s Missionary Union’s executive board that Southern Baptists gave $49,650,279 last year.

Opinion

Editorial

Editorial: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer recently got a lesson in the true meaning of being "pro-choice" on abortion. It’s a lesson worth learning for Christian citizens who defend the sanctity of human life and wish to advocate that conviction in the Public Square.

Point-of-View

Point-of-View: Any discussion of God must begin with His holiness. The holiness of God is a demand! He did not say, "Be as holy as I am," but he did say, "Be holy for I am holy."
Point-of-View: The Florida Baptist Convention has been richly blessed by the Lord through the leadership of Dr. John Sullivan. Dr. and Mrs. Sullivan have completed 15 years of visionary leadership among us. The heart of the pastor is demonstrated in the counsel, friendship, and support that Dr. Sullivan offers to our churches. He is truly a pastor to our pastors. The trust level of our Florida Baptist family in the work of our State Convention is based in the tenor of fair and consistent leadership provided by Dr. Sullivan.
Point-of-View: Every day I read the New York Times. I have to see what’s happening in the world in order to do this column. But sometimes it sets my teeth on edge.

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.

Cartoon

Tithers Cartoon

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Church calls out men for service as deacon-pastors: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Behind closed doors, a counseling session concludes as two men bow their heads—one of them prays to receive Christ.
Greater deacon responsiblity results from pastor’s conviction to equip: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—What is eager to serve, moves quickly to minister, and stirs up the dust with his passion to be Christ — the ultimate servant to others? Deacons, according to Lee Sheppard, pastor of Celebration Baptist Church in Jacksonville.
Winter gathering draws women from across state: JACKSONVILLE—(FBC) At the first of three meetings held across the state, 275 women from northeast Florida learned they were, "Born to Be the Ultimate Me," Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Women’s Winter Gathering on the campus of Deermeadows Baptist Church, Jacksonville.
Nichols chosen for family commission: JACKSONVILLE — (FBW) Gary N. Nichols, associate director of the Discipleship and Family Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, was one of six persons appointed to the Florida Commission of Marriage and Family by Florida Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd.
Music leaders set for ‘2000 and More in 2004’ conference Feb. 28: JACKSONVILLE—(FBC) Children’s choir directors across Florida are voicing their excitement as time draws near for "2000 and More in 2004," Feb. 28 at First Baptist Church, Orlando.
Miami Baptists lead in church starts: JACKSONVILLE (FBC) - According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 13 new churches in Dec., 2003.
PBAU set to install sixth president: WEST PALM BEACH (PBAU)—Palm Beach Atlantic University will formally install its sixth president, David W. Clark, in a traditional academic ceremony Feb. 26.

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

National observance of Covenant Marriage set for Feb. 15: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–How can Christian churches battle the legalization of homosexual unions? How can they begin to reverse the 30-year fallout of "no-fault divorce"?
Orlando firm sponsors first-ever national ‘Day of Purity’ Feb. 13: ORLANDO (FBW)—Launching the first national "Day of Purity" Feb. 13, Orlando-based Liberty Counsel is calling for the America’s students to promote purity and to offer "pure" Valentine’s Day activities.
‘True Love Waits’ goes to XXVIII Olympics: The international True Love Waits campaign will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Athens, Greece Aug. 22 at the XXVIII Olympiad. For more information, visit www.truelovewaits.com, send e-mail inquiries to truvelovewaits@lifeway.com, or call 800-LUV-WAIT.
‘Churches Praying for Churches’ initiative launched: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–In an effort to promote supportive prayer among the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, a new initiative called "Churches Praying for Churches" enables both individual believers and church prayer groups to pray not only for their own churches but for every Southern Baptist church during 2004.
An interview with George Barna reveals insight into trends: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Church leaders are quick to take note when George Barna conducts a survey. And they tap into what he has written in 30-plus books and what he says in his research-based seminars held across the country.
Akin elected to helm of SEBTS by unanimous vote: WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)–Daniel L. Akin became the sixth president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Jan. 15 with a unanimous vote of the seminary’s board of trustees.

National News Brief

NOBTS to host event on Baptist distinctives: NEW ORLEANS - The Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will host a three-day conference on Baptist distinctives Feb. 5-7, 2004. The conference theme is "Issues in Baptist Polity."
Ray Rigdon, dead at 84, led Seminary Extension: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Raymond M. (Ray) Rigdon, who led the Southern Baptist Convention’s Seminary Extension ministry from 1969-1988, died Jan. 16 in Nashville, Tenn., after a lengthy illness. He was 84.

Feature

Family Matters

Baby Boot Camp aimed at encouraging new moms: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–The first six weeks of motherhood can be one of the most difficult seasons in a woman’s life. Life with a new baby often reveals a large gap between expectations and reality, forcing many first-time moms into a world where they soon find themselves completely unprepared.
Pediatrician touts love & discipline: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–After almost a decade as a pediatrician, William Slonecker had heard it all – the medical questions about kids with colic and strep throat and an array of other queries from anxious parents wondering about this or that symptom.
COMMENTARY: Heading off teen rebellion: QUESTION: My children are still in elementary school and I want to avoid adolescent rebellion in the future if I can. What can you tell me to help me get ready for this scary time?

Media Montage

NCAA basketball coaches reading Purpose-Driven Life: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–When the moral crisis of college basketball motivated a meeting this past fall of the NCAA’s Division I coaches, New Mexico’s Ritchie McKay came armed with what he thought could help turn the tide: Rick Warren’s book The Purpose-Driven Life.
REVIEW - The Da Vinci Code: Distinguishing fact from fiction: Several months ago, a friend came to me outraged over Dan Brown’s thriller, The Da Vinci Code. He read the book, and while he found the story fascinating, it was filled, he said, with historical distortions and was nothing but an anti-Christian —specifically anti-Catholic—screed. Don’t worry, I told him, it will blow over like all fads. Besides, no thinking person will take it seriously.
Barrows’ hymnals donated to SBTS: LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–While relocating his residence from Atlanta to Charlotte, N.C., this fall, Cliff Barrows realized his vast collection of hymnals and music books needed a new home as well.
FCC may reverse ruling allowing expletive: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–If Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has his way, an expletive for male-female relations may be a thing of the past at least on broadcast television and radio.

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.