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Photo by Joni B. Hannigan

Rallies head to S. Florida

Stephanie Coats, director of the adult choir at Grace of God Baptist Church in Miami, led worship during a whirlwind of Florida Baptist Convention 150th Anniversary celebration rallies in South Florida the week of March 8-11. Coats performed a solo March 9 at Glendale Baptist Church, Miami. March 11 she led a young women's group, Hands of Praise, and an adult praise team at Sheridan Hills Baptist Church, Hollywood. Click here for story.

Four IMB workers killed in Iraq ambush
One other critically wounded in drive-by shooting in northern Iraq city of Mosul

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Four Americans researching needs for humanitarian projects in northern Iraq were killed and one was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting March 15 in Mosul. The workers were in the area under the auspices of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.

Miami Kingdom Family conference draws multi-lingual crowd

MIAMI (FBW)-In an experimental multi-lingual, inter-generational event, Miami Baptists gathered for the first-ever Family Life Encounter March 5-6. The prototype of a Kingdom Family conference, held at First Baptist Church, Perrine, was designed to encourage hundreds of participants to "come home to the heart of God."

Missionaries leave comfort zones, share in rugged America

KIANA, Alaska-God first began working in John and Kim Piepmeier's lives through their local church. But it wasn't long before they were involved in full-time service close to home-and finally to a land that is about as close to "the ends of the earth" as anywhere.

Opinion

Editorial

Muslims must ensure religious freedom for all Iraqis
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

Will March 8, 2004, be remembered as the day Iraq enshrined freedom of conscience in its constitution or will future Iraqis look back on this day with deep remorse as a time of ephemeral promise destroyed by Islamic rejection of authentic and vibrant religious liberty?

Point of View

Doctrine of sin: 'Sin always has a surprise ending'
Point-of-View
JOHN SULLIVAN
Executive Director-Treasurer,
Florida Baptist Convention

The doctrine of sin is a religious and a theological category. Sin is spoken of within a relative context. We cannot explain or define sin-it is irrational and illogical. There is no rationale for sin. There is no reason to commit sin.

BREAKPOINT: Miserable in the midst of plenty: The progress paradox
Point-of-View
CHARLES COLSON

Have you ever thought about what life was like for your great-grandparents? If you really have, you'd agree with Gregg Easterbrook of the Brookings Institution that our great-grandparents would consider the world we live in today to be some kind of utopia.

Will Senators Graham and Nelson see the second victim?
Point-of-View
DOUGLAS JOHNSON
Special to Florida Baptist Witness

Like so many victims of violent crimes, Lisa Dyke and her son, Julius, were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

On January 26, 1993, Lisa, age 18, was with Julius, babysitting at a friend's apartment in Wilton Manors (Broward County). Ronnie Keith Williams - a convicted knife-murderer, recently released because of prison overcrowding - came to the door looking for someone who wasn't there. Williams took out his displeasure on Lisa and Julius. He stabbed them a total of 18 times with a 15-inch knife. He also raped Lisa and repeatedly bit her.

Letters

Letters

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Deland volunteer gives real hope to New Hope Villas

Jacksonville (FBC)-Fern crops covered with black tarps line the state highway between Jennie Bowers' home and New Hope Villas, the government-built migrant housing in Seville.

150th Anniversary rallies move through South Florida

NAPLES (FBC/FBW)-A whirlwind of rallies in South Central and South Florida marked the beginning of the end of a month-long focus kicking off the 150th anniversary of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

State lawmakers stall on language in parental notification bill

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-The Florida House of Representatives gave a tentative nod March 11 to a bill calling for an amendment that would enact legislation requiring parents to be notified if a minor seeks an abortion.

Terri Schiavo's parents lose second bid to intervene in court case

CLEARWATER (FBW) - A Florida state court March 12 denied a motion to intervene on behalf of Robert and Mary Schindler, the parents of Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman at the center of a "right-to-die" debate.

Historical Vignette: FBSC Executive Secretaries

There have been nine men who have served the Florida Baptist Convention as executive secretary since that work was begun in 1880. These nine men made indelible impressions in leadership, service and ministry in the convention.

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

Blackaby: As judgment looms, God's people hold the future

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)-With America on the verge of God's judgment, God's people hold America's future in their hands, Henry Blackaby said during Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's annual Church Music Workshop.

Annuity Board exec delares 2004 as year of 'Expansion'

DALLAS (BP)-"Expansion" is the theme of the Annuity Board, President O.S. Hawkins told the trustees of the Southern Baptist entity during their March 1-2 meeting in Dallas.
Hawkins cited Isaiah 54:2, which states, "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes."

Wal-Mart prohibits pastor from extending church invite

CONROE, Texas (BP)-Steve Barrett can't help it. Everywhere he goes, he befriends people and invites them to church. As a pastor and as a Christian, he sees it as a mandate from God straight out of Luke 14:23, "And the lord said unto the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.'"

National News Briefs

Policy makes BWA ineligible for exhibit space, SBC official says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-The convention manager for the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting has notified the Baptist World Alliance that it will not be provided exhibit space during this June's SBC sessions in Indianapolis.

Appeals court nominee is longtime Missouri Baptist

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP)-Duane Benton, a Missouri Baptist and state Supreme Court judge, has been nominated by President Bush to become a judge in the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court.

Feature

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Missions News

Lottie Moon missions offering projections hopeful

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--If initial projections hold, Southern Baptist giving to the 2003 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering will be up between 18 percent and 22 percent over 2002, International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin announced March 10.

700 attend dedication of first Baptist church in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (BP)-Nearly a year after U.S. troops began liberating Iraq, evangelicals in the fragile country are emerging with new boldness to take advantage of the newly granted religious freedom they lived so long without.

Iraqi interim constitution gives Islam official 'status' while protecting religious freedom

WASHINGTON (BP)-At least five of the 63 articles in Iraq's interim constitution signed March 8 in Baghdad contain statements of religious freedom.

Public Policy

Supreme Court hears arguments on Internet porn ban

WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court should uphold the more limited attempt by Congress to solve the “overwhelming” problem of child access to Internet pornography, a lawyer for the Bush administration told the justices March 2.

Will teens, young adults embrace same-sex 'marriage'?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-If same-sex "marriage" is legalized nationwide in America, as some believe it will be, then the liberal views of teenagers and young adults are sure to play a large role. This view is widespread among same-sex "marriage" supporters, who constantly cite polls showing what they claim are America's changing attitudes. Teens, they say, are embracing homosexual "marriage."

Media Montage

Florida legislator invites colleagues to 'Passion' viewing

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-A member of the Florida House of Representatives has kept his annual tradition of extending a gift to his colleagues in the legislature.

B&H releases study on Book of Revelation, end times

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-In an evil and dangerous time that surely signals the last days, the Book of Revelation gives Christians the encouragement and understanding they need to live bold, hope-filled lives, one of America's most-respected Bible teachers writes in a new book.

Churches find out who's new in town via Web site

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-Matt Cannon used to think big-time ministry strategies were only for big-time churches.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

March 28: Acting decisively
Esther 2:7, 17; 3:5-6; 4:13-17; 7:1-3; 8:11-13, 16

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

April 4: Suffering Savior
Matthew 27:27-31, 35-37, 50-51; 1 John 4:7-10

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

Explore the Bible

March 28: Showing Respect
1 Timothy 5:1 to 6:2

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

April 4: Wealth
1 Timothy 6:3-21

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