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NAMB photo by Gibbs Frazeur

AAEO at work at MIT

Michael Dean (right) speaks with Mission Service Corps missionary Bryan Goza on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Goza works with student ministry on the campus. Click here for article

SBC Pastors’ meeting: ‘Jesus Came Preaching’
Olive’s Traylor will lead Indy Pastors’ Conference

PENSACOLA (FBW) - Ted Traylor is burdened about the need for biblical preaching in America’s pulpits. That burden drove his planning and preparation for this year’s Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference to be held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Florida Baptist missionaries flee Haiti in midst of uprising

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Days before Jean-Bertrand Aristide stepped down as president of Haiti as rebels were surrounding the capital city of Port-au-Prince, Florida Baptist missionaries Tom and Annette Harper fled the Caribbean nation Feb. 26 aboard the last American Airlines flight to leave.

President Bush backs constitutional marriage amendment

WASHINGTON (BP)–President Bush announced his support for a constitutional marriage amendment Feb. 24, saying that "activist" judges and local officials threaten to change the "most fundamental institution of civilization."

Opinion

Editorial

The Marriage Amendment: A debate our culture needs
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

America’s debate about "gay marriage" reached a new level of intensity last week when President George W. Bush endorsed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman after the recent actions of judges in Massachusetts and the mayor of San Francisco left the president no other option.

Point of View

Trinity critical concept in understanding God
Point-of-View
JOHN SULLIVAN
Executive Director-Treasurer,
Florida Baptist Convention

For the past five weeks, we have examined the Doctrine of God–the central idea in religion–defining Him in terms of human life and experience. We have seen Him as Creator; His almighty power and ever present nature; His holy and righteous nature; and His love and His wrath. This week we will explore the definition and doctrine of the Trinity.

Cloning: People need ‘education in the biotech agenda’
Point-of-View
CHARLES COLSON

In January, President Bush announced to the March for Life that he wants a comprehensive ban on human cloning. That’s what we’ve been saying here at BreakPoint since they first cloned Dolly the sheep. The House of Representatives has voted for a ban more than once. Unfortunately in the Senate the biotech industry and celebrities like Christopher Reeve have persuaded some key senators that they need to protect so-called "therapeutic cloning"–that is, the creation of millions of human embryos for medical experiments.

A pastor’s view of Gibson’s, ‘The (Dolorous) Passion’
Point-of-View
HOWARD J. ROSZAK
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Paisley

"The Passion of The Christ" is a very Catholic movie, produced by a very Catholic Mel Gibson, and based upon a very Catholic book — The Dolorous Passion. The Dolorous Passion is a collection of the meditations of an 18th Century, mystic nun by the name of Anne Catherine Emmerich as she received direct revelation from the Virgin Mary.

Letters to the Editor

Letters

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Lakeland bikers to Rumble Across Florida in March

LAKELAND (FBW)–The FAITH Riders Motorcycle Ministry of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland hopes to institute a new bikers’ tradition in Florida. Long after Bike Week in Daytona has concluded, the FAITH Riders will be rumbling across Florida cities in a seven-day mission trip to six cities, March 21-27. The route will cover 1500 miles of Florida roads.

Children’s Homes conferences offer insight into children’s lives

LAKELAND (FBCH)-Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is extending an invitation to Florida Baptists to attend any of the seven Annual Dinner Conferences and Centennial Celebrations which the Homes will be conducting throughout the state in the coming weeks.

Acteens leaders are role models

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Four teenage girls devoted to Christian missions were chosen to represent Florida as "Acteens state advisory panelists," a group sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Women’s Missionary Union (WMU).

Annuity Board tax guide and survey available

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–The SBC Annuity Board is offering two resources to assist Florida Baptist churches and their ministers in money matters.

Palm Beach Atlantic University installs sixth president

WEST PALM BEACH (PBAU)-Defining the University as a "dynamic synergism of faith and rigorous learning," David W. Clark took the formal oath of office as Palm Beach Atlantic University’s sixth president Feb. 26 during an installation ceremony, the centerpiece of a week-long celebration titled "Faithfully in Christ."

Liberian church opens arms, hearts to refugees from Africa

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–A lean, suited man stood to read a scripture. His wife, dressed in traditional African garb, was seated behind him. Her quiet demeanor displayed her slight reservations at the unfamiliar gathering. They were safe now–physically and spiritually.

Florida Baptists can celebrate 150 years of heritage by endowment giving

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Florida Baptists are being encouraged to celebrate 150 years of heritage and hope by preparing the way for future generations.

150th Anniversary launched in Ocala, Dade City, Brandon

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–The "Join the Celebration" rallies traveled south along the I-75 corridor during the week of Feb. 23 making whistle stops in Ocala, Dade City and Brandon.

Jaxport chaplain welcomes weary seafarers

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Jacksonville’s seaport Chaplain Scotty Langford reaches people at the ends of the earth yet never leaves the River City.

Historical Vignette: Our Florida Baptist schools

The first Florida Baptist Convention constitution included a desire to have an educated ministry. Reading early Florida Baptist history gives one an appreciation for the struggles, hard work, and sacrifice of many to see that Florida Baptists had a plan and purpose in educating its preachers.

This is seventh in a series of vignettes.

Witness seeks dedicated journalist to fill writing/layout position

JACKSONVILLE (FBW) — Florida Baptist Witness is accepting resumes for an entry level position which will include reporting, layout and design responsibilities.

Florida News Brief

Falwell offers 50 law school scholarships

JACKSONVILLE (BP)–The newly formed Liberty University law school is offering at least 50 full-tuition scholarships to students who gain admission to the inaugural class now enrolling for the fall semester. Jerry Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University and pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., made this announcement on Monday, Feb. 2, to nearly 7,000 church leaders assembled at the Pastor’s Conference hosted by Jerry Vines and First Baptist Church in Jacksonville.

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

Reformation of Christian manhood key to U.S. revival

ORLANDO (BP)–A reformation of Christian manhood is necessary for North America to experience true spiritual revival, Patrick Morley, chairman and CEO of Man in the Mirror ministries, told a gathering of mission education leaders from across the U.S. and Canada.

Prof’s book on debt examines Protestant reformers’ views

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)–Is it permissible for Christians to lend money at interest or pay interest to others? This is the question Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary financial ethicist David Jones explores through the eyes of the 16th-century Protestant reformers in his new book, Reforming the Morality of Usury: A Study of Differences that Separated the Protestant Reformers.

Missions News

‘Won’t’ and ‘can’t’ no longer in missionary’s vocabulary

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–The earth teems with people who are hopelessly lost without Christ, and Christians must obey God’s call to missions now because time is running short, several new missionaries told an audience attending a Feb. 3 appointment service at Bethany Place Baptist Church in Richmond, Va.

National News Brief

Davidson to be nominee for SBC first VP

ARNOLD, Mo. (BP)–Gerald Davidson, pastor of the St. Louis-area First Baptist Church in Arnold for 27 years and a past president of the Missouri Baptist Convention, will be nominated for first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the June 15-16 annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Feature

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Reaching internationals in Boston gateway to reaching world

BOSTON (NAMB)-Michael Dean lives and works in Boston, but in many ways his work is similar to that of an international missionary, planting seeds of the gospel in students, business professionals and their families before they return to their home countries.

$75,000 grant awarded to Miami Care Center

The Miami Baptist Association's Good News Care Center recently received a $75,000 two-year grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield's "Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida."

The Passion of the Christ

10 questions for moviegoers in discussing ‘The Passion’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)–Judging by ticket sales and media attention, the movie by Mel Gibson, "The Passion of The Christ," already is one of the most popular and controversial films of our time. These questions will help in thinking through the movie or in discussing it with others.

‘The Passion of The Christ’ impacts theater crowds, changes opinions

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-News outlets reported March 1 "The Passion of The Christ" earned a record $125.2 million in its first five days in theaters nationwide. The film already surpassed its closest competition, "50 First Dates," which earned only a tenth of The Passion’s total ticket sales. Many Floridians also assert that the film’s impact goes beyond box office numbers.

Media Montage

Grand Canyon bookstore reorders controversial book

PHOENIX (BP)–Officials at the Grand Canyon National Park have ordered additional copies of Grand Canyon: A Different View–a hardcover book of photos and essays advocating creation science and being sold in the park’s bookstores.

Radio chain stands against indecency; fires Stern, ‘Bubba the Love Sponge’

WASHINGTON (BP)—Clear Channel Radio announced a change in direction in the level of indecency permitted on its 1,200 radio stations during the same week its top executive testified before a congressional panel.

Sound Bites

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

March 14: Opposing false beliefs
Judges 6:1, 7-10, 12-14, 25-32

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

March 21: Refusing to compromise
Daniel 3:1-2, 4-6, 13-18, 21, 24-25, 27b-28

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

Explore the Bible

March 14: Christian service
1 Timothy 3:1-15

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

March 21: Godliness
1 Timothy 4

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