Front Page

Sullivan heralded as pastor's pastor

EUSTIS (FBC)—Encourager, unifier, family man, man of integrity and conviction—these characterizations were consistently used to describe John Sullivan during his 15th anniversary celebration as the ninth executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention.

IMB photo

Driven into India’s sex industry by hunger, Shobha has worked in Allahabad’s red-light district for years. She doesn’t say whether her father pushed her—or sold her—into the flesh trade.

India’s red light districts in need of the Savior

ALLAHABAD, India (BP)–Shobha has sad eyes. Tired eyes.

Not dead eyes, yet. But dying. The heavy makeup on her face can’t hide it.

Florida evangelist Jay Strack to speak at SBC in Indianapolis
Gaither Vocal Band, Franklin Graham also at June 15-16 meeting

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, June 15-16 in Indianapolis, will be anything but one-dimensional, reflecting the depth of this year’s theme, "Kingdom Forever," and featured among others, Orlando’s Jay Strack, founder of the Student Leadership University.

Opinion

Editorial

Will Florida's ban on same-sex adoptions stand?
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

Wait until the Supreme Court hears about this!

Last week, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals based in Atlanta upheld Florida’s statute banning adoptions by homosexuals in a unanimous 3-0 decision. The recent, seemingly unstoppable homosexual rights juggernaut was dealt a stunning setback in a Jan. 28, 2004, ruling that is marked by refreshing common sense — which is one reason why the U.S. Supreme Court is not likely to let it stand.

Point of View

Doctrine of God: Magnifying Him as Creator
Point-of-View
JOHN SULLIVAN
Executive Director-Treasurer
Florida Baptist Convention

The central idea in religion is God. Before we can understand doctrine and theology, we must seek a definition of God. God has spoken to us by nature, revelation, fellowship and ransom.

‘Racial acceptance’ still falls short of Christ’s standard
Point-of-View
TOM ATWOOD
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Not many years ago, our church’s leadership and I felt we should have joint services with a neighboring black church. Imagine my surprise when, after the announcement, a man confronted me with, "Preacher, you’re making a serious mistake. The Bible clearly teaches that the races are to stay separate!" Really?

BREAKPOINT: Fatal visions: How a bad worldview can make you what’s for dinner
Point-of-View
CHARLES COLSON

Earlier this month, the half-eaten body of a cyclist was found in a California state park. The next day, a second cyclist barely avoided the same fate when her friends threw rocks at the perpetrator: a two-year-old mountain lion.

Letters

Letters

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Volunteers respond to emergencies, train others

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–In late 2003, trained Florida Baptist disaster relief volunteers responded to an F1 tornado in Florida’s Palm Beach County and traveled over 1,000 miles to help victims of Hurricane Isabel in Washington D.C. and Norfolk, Va.

Philanthropist Paul Piper dies in Apollo Beach

APOLLO BEACH (FBW) - Paul Piper Sr., 86, known throughout the southeast for his charitable contributions to Christian ministries, died Jan. 17 in Apollo Beach. He established four foundations through which he contributed to Christian causes in Florida, Alabama and his home state, Tennessee.

JAX radio show host fined $755K by the FCC for indecency

JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - A 2-year old complaint to the FCC against a Jacksonville radio station has resulted in the largest one-time fine it has ever handed down for indecent broadcasting. According to the Florida Times Union, the $755,000 fine, including the maximum $27,500 penalty for 26 violations, has been levied against four Clear Channel Communications channels in Florida, including WPLA in Jacksonville.

Historical Society seeks nominees

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–The Florida Baptist Historical Society invites nominations for the annual Heritage Award. Nominees may be living or departed and shall have "exhibited rare and unusual dedication to the cause of Florida Southern Baptist history and shall have made a significant impact through such means as writing Baptist history, teaching Baptist history, and/or promoting the importance of Florida Southern Baptist history."

State Board suspends disfellowshipped church

EUSTIS (FBC)-In a precedent setting move, the State Board of Missions suspended membership of a Daytona Beach church after its association withdrew fellowship over theological concerns until the congregation applies for, and is approved to receive, church-at-large status with the Florida Baptist State Convention.

Historical Vignette: Mercers leave Florida legacy

The Alachua and West Florida Baptist Associations were begun in 1847. These two associations with the Florida Baptist Association were the organizing entities that formed The Baptist Convention of the State of Florida in 1854.

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

Presidential hopefuls talk to homosexual Advocate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A popular homosexual magazine has landed interviews with three of the leading Democrat contenders in recent months, revealing much about the candidates that normally goes unsaid on the campaign trail.

National News Brief

SBTS names new deans of theology school, Boyce College

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–R. Albert Mohler Jr. searched the nation for a new dean of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s school of theology and a new dean of Boyce College.

Kansan to be nominated to lead SBC pastors' group

AMARILLO, Texas (BP)–Stan Coffey, pastor of San Jacinto Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas, has announced his intention to nominate Terry Fox, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church of Wichita, Kan., to serve as president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference this June in Indianapolis.

Reccord appointed to broadcasters' board

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Robert E. (Bob) Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, has been appointed to serve on the National Religious Broadcasters board of directors.

International News

Uttar Pradesh ‘epicenter of lostness’ in South Asia

VARANASI, India (BP)–Uttar Pradesh is a crossroads.

The state in northern India is a crossroads for slave trafficking and prostitution because of its poverty, proximity to other poor regions and other social/economic forces.

Abused children find love, protection at Indian shelter

ALLAHABAD, India (BP)–Fatima runs to greet visitors at the Christian shelter for women and children in Allahabad. The smile on her round little face shines as brightly as the gleaming yellow sari she wears.

Feature

Persecuted Church

Persecution not limited to Christians, Shea says

WASHINGTON (BP)–Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom, has tracked the persecution of Christians in such nations as Cuba, North Korea, India, China and Vietnam.

Experts: Attacks on religious freedom intensifying worldwide

WASHINGTON (BP)–The list of suffering reads like Hebrews 11:32-39: churches seized, people dragged from meetings and beaten to death, seeing their homes destroyed, or being arrested for carrying Bibles.

Columbia Remembered

Columbia astronaut wives celebrate husbands' faith

HOUSTON (BP)–It has been the most horrific year of their lives, and yet, they say they have not grieved as ones who have no hope. Theirs has been a public grief following the tragedy that took the lives of their husbands on Feb. 1, 2003, and left a mark on millions of people around the world.

Remembering a national tragedy

TITUSVILLE (FBW)-Westside Baptist Church, Titusville, paid tribute to the fallen Columbia astronauts in its morning service Feb. 1. Greg Lohning, a NASA employee, spoke to the congregation.

High Calling details Husband's priorities as a man of faith

HOUSTON (BP)–As the one-year anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster approached, Evelyn Husband, wife of shuttle commander Rick Husband, penned a book about the astronaut’s faith in God.

Columbia astronauts remembered

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 15: Disciplined Bible study
Joshua 1:6-9; Psalm 1:1-6; 2 Timothy 2:15-16

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

February 22: Disciplined Giving
Malachi 3:6-12; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

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

Explore the Bible

February 15: Be wise about sexual purity
Proverbs 5:1-23; 6:20-35

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

February 22: View finances wisely
Proverbs 3:9-10; 11:28; 13:11; 15:27; 16:8,16; 20:17; 21:6; 22:4,16; 23:4-5; 28:6,8,20,24; 30:7-9

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