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Photos by Joni B. Hannigan

(Left) Felix Ramirez, pastor of La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Mascotte, leads the procession to his son Eric Ramirez's grave at Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell Feb. 21. (Right-top) Maria Ramirez (r) and her daughter Xochil Elmore, put roses on Eric's casket. (Right-bottom) Tracy Benson-Ramirez accepts a U.S. flag while daughter, Isis, nearly two, looks on from Tracy's mother's arms. For story, click here.

Welch to be nominated for SBC president

WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)–Bobby Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., will be nominated as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the June 15-16 annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Miami NAMB missionaries minister to internationals

MIAMI (NAMB)–To say Michael Daily likes a challenge would be an understatement.

Ministering in the midst of disaster has almost become routine for the Missouri native, a North American missionary who has served as director of church and community ministries with the Miami Baptist Association for the past 17 years.

SBC president proposes changing convention’s name

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham has called for a new name for the denomination and will appoint a committee to study the idea.

Graham weighs in on culture, BWA, chaplains

MADISON (FBW)-Characterizing his two years in office as a "battle for the life of the souls of humanity," Southern Baptist Convention president Jack Graham said the opportunity for Southern Baptists to impact the world has never been greater.

Opinion

Editorial

Who REALLY killed Jesus? My role and the Father’s Editorial JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: As if there hasn’t been enough ink spilled on the subject, forgive my humble effort at engaging the cultural phenomenon known as, "The Passion of The Christ." Mel Gibson’s controversial film is now in theaters after months of media attention and Christian curiosity has made the movie one of the most anticipated works to come to the big screen in years.

Point of View

God’s love and wrath reveal His redemptive plan Point-of-View JOHN SULLIVAN Executive Director-Treasurer, Florida Baptist Convention: To understand the Doctrine of God, one must examine His love and wrath. God’s love and wrath are different sides of the same coin. His wrath is one aspect of his divine love. Those who reject His love experience God’s wrath.
Some take ‘unimaginable risks to follow God’s leading’ Point-of-View ROBERT E. "BOB" RECCORD North American Mission Board: This time of year has traditionally been a very special one in Southern Baptist life as we focus on the mission of reaching North America for Christ and we celebrate the missionaries who are ministering in the spiritual outposts of our homeland. It’s also a time to lift up the needs of the mission to reach North America.
Meology vs. Theology Point-of-View J. THOMAS GREEN III president, Florida Baptist State Convention: The biblical admonition of 2 Timothy 2:2 calls for us to stand firm in the faith. Paul writes, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Your beliefs determine your behavior. It is important that you understand what you believe and why you believe these truths. The stewardship of teaching and transferring the truth from generation to generation remains the responsibility of the church. The invading of contemporary culture with biblical truth is the challenge for our churches.
‘The Passion’ and the Talmud examined Point-of-View TERRY MATTINGLY Baptist Press: The ancient rabbinic text is clear about the punishment for those who twisted sacred law and misled the people of Israel.
‘The Passion of The Christ’ Point-of-View TED BAEHR MOVIEGUIDE: "The Passion of the Christ" is not your average passion play, although it covers the time period from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Resurrection. Going beyond most passion plays, it highlights in stark, dark, intense terms the spiritual warfare raging around Jesus Christ during His Passion in a concrete way.

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Pastor proclaims ‘Gloria de Dios’ while mourning son: MASCOTTE (FBW) — Pastor Felix Ramirez honored his fallen son, a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq this month, in the way he knew best. He officiated at the funeral, led the procession of mourners from a white hearse to a rotunda at the cemetery, and, finally, sprinkled soil into an open grave, praying and reciting Scripture.
New Florida churches: According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 13 new churches in January 2004.
Vines says denominations are ‘implicitly’ scriptural: ORANGE PARK (FBC)-Speaking at a Jacksonville-area rally, Jerry Vines, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, declared, "Some things we can do better together than we can do separately. We want to win this whole city to Jesus Christ.
Wild game feasts reach unchurched hunters, friends: CALLAHAN (FBW)-Several Florida churches have capitalized on their members’ love of hunting and fishing to attract sportsmen to church events where hunting and fishing tales are mixed with Gospel presentations. First Baptist Church, Callahan, and Green Pond Baptist Church, Polk City, recently hosted crowds of hunting enthusiasts, while other Florida churches plan to host similar events this year.
Constitutional amendment on parental rights sought: TALLAHASSEE (FBW) - Florida House leaders Feb. 17 passed a tightly worded proposal to amend the Florida State Constitution to ensure the rights of parents to raise their children without undue fear of Florida’s unusually strong privacy provision.
2004 National Day of Care set for Feb. 29: JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - The National Day of Care - "Compassionate Aids Relief Effort" is set for Sunday, Feb. 29, according to a press release.

Florida Focus

Florida Focus

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

Sullivan addresses conference on Baptist polity: NEW ORLEANS (BP)–Many Southern Baptists don’t really understand the true relationships between their SBC ministries, state conventions, associations and local congregations, said John Sullivan, executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention.
Congregationalism: Viable & biblical, speakers say Web Exclusive: NEW ORLEANS (BP)--At a time when traditional Baptist church government, known as congregational polity, has fallen out of favor in some churches, a number of Southern Baptist thinkers met at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to discuss the issue.
Elders in Baptist churches? Conference examines the idea Web Exclusive: NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Elders and congregationalism. For many Baptists, these terms sound like polar opposites. However, according to some speakers at the "Issues in Baptist Polity" conference, the two may not be mutually exclusive.
Interest & dialogue sparked by 'church polity' conference theme Web Exclusive: NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Don't tell the pastors, professors and students who attended the "Issues in Baptist Polity" conference that church governance is a boring topic.
Vines urges preachers to be shepherds, soldiers: JACKSONVILLE (BP)–What is the pressing theological question for this generation? And how are preachers supposed to deal with it?
Union’s Dockery sees ‘common ground’ in Calvinism debate: JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–Are Southern Baptists Calvinists? Yes and no, said David S. Dockery, president of Union University. Yes, because some Southern Baptists subscribe to Calvinist beliefs in some form; no, because all do not.
SBC panel recommends break with Baptist World Alliance Floridian leads one-man protest before Executive Committee vote: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (FBW/BP)-The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee overwhelmingly approved a report from a study committee recommending withdrawal from the Baptist World Alliance, a nearly 100-year-old organization of more than 200 Baptist denominations. The recommendation awaits final approval by messengers to the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis in June.
EC asks New Orleans Seminary to adopt sole membership Web Exclusive: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Capping a two-hour discussion that focused on corporate law and Baptist polity, Executive Committee members asked New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees Feb. 17 to make the Southern Baptist Convention the "sole member" of the seminary.
Further steps approved to change Annuity Board's name, ministry Web Exclusive: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The process of changing the Annuity Board's name and expanding its ministry opportunities moved forward as the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee approved recommendations to amend the entity's charter and the charter of its affiliates during the committee's Feb. 16-17 meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

Feature

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Annie remains role model for missions commitment: The woman for whom the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions was named lived from 1850 to 1938, but her boldness and commitment to missions during her lifetime continue to serve as a model for today.
AAEO - The Missionaries: The following are among nearly 5,200 missionaries in the United States and Canada supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.
Offering directly supports missionaries, ministries: One hundred percent of Annie Armstrong Easter Offering funds directly support North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionaries and their ministries. These funds ensure 5,200 missionaries in the United States, Canada and U.S. territories are equipped with salaries, benefits, and supplies to sustain their ministries and impact as many people as possible with the good news of Jesus Christ.
AAEO - NAMB Facts
What your gifts can do ...: The items below represents a sample of how Annie Armstrong Easter Offering gifts may be used.

Evangelism

FAITH moves people to ‘see the world as God sees it’: DAYTONA BEACH (BP)–Because many churches lack an evangelism strategy, they default to evangelistic indifference, said Gene Mims, vice president of the church resources division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Father and son duo use FAITH to mobilize congregation: DAYTONA BEACH (BP)–In a different twist to the "Like father, like son" story, Doug Tester and his father, Gene, have become coworkers through the FAITH Sunday School/evangelism strategy.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 29: Disciplined Service Matthew 20:20-28; Romans 12:9-13: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
March 7: Demonstrating Spiritual Leadership Judges 4:4-10, 14-16; 5:1-2, 6-9: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

February 29: Manage money wisely Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 11:24-25; 14:23; 17:18; 18:9; 19:17; 21:13, 20; 22:7, 9, 26-27; 28:27: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.
March 7: Evangelism 1 Timothy 1-2: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.