Front Page

Illustration by Caffey Whitney

"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." -- 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (HCSB)

LAST WITNESS OF THE YEAR

LAST WITNESS OF THE YEAR
Florida Baptist Witness publishes 46 issues each year. Dec. 22 - Jan. 5 the Witness is not published.

The next issue will be dated January 12. For breaking news, visit the Witness web site: www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com.

Thank you for your continued support of the ministry of Florida Baptist Witness.

Opinion

Editorial

Beyond ‘The Passion’ lies the ‘rest of the story’
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

This Lord's Day Christians around the world will celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus. As the Scriptures report and believers from the First Century forward have testified, on the third day after His burial, Jesus arose from the grave leaving behind an empty tomb.

Point of View

‘Redeem ... renew ... refresh’ your congregation
Point-of-View
J. THOMAS GREEN III
president, Florida Baptist State Convention

I recently urged our Florida Baptist churches to participate in a revival during the 2004 year. Revivals are an effective means for reaching the lost and encouraging your church. The spiritual blessings and benefits that are experienced through revival are immeasurable for a church family. The unity that revival yields to a church is the result of prayer, planning, preparation, and participation in a focused ministry effort.

BREAKPOINT: God’s Word versus God’s Spirit? A case of Methodist madness
Point-of-View
CHARLES COLSON

Nine years ago, Karen Dammann quietly moved in with her lesbian lover. She didn’t advertise the fact because, as a United Methodist pastor, she risked losing her job if she did so. The denomination’s Book of Discipline condemns homosexual acts and prohibits ordination of practicing homosexuals.

Courage, compassion are equal partners in confronting homosexuals
Point-of-View
R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—The church’s engagement with the culture involves a host of issues, controversies, and decisions—but no issue defines our current cultural crisis as clearly as homosexuality.

Letters

Letters

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Green urges Convention staff to godly leadership

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)- Members of the Florida Baptist Convention staff were called to their knees by State Convention President Tommy Green as he urged them to purge the trash from their lives and recommit to the zeal and passion of godly leadership.

Reclaim ‘spirit of promise’

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Visiting the Baptist Building March 31, Tommy Green, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, challenged employees to have a spirit of possession and promise, removing any potential of "lagging limitations" or "lackluster leadership" in the work of Florida Baptists.

Christian schools summit set for May 11 at FBC Orlando
Participants may play Bay Hill course

ORLANDO (FBW)—The Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools and Florida Baptist Convention are co-sponsoring a first-ever Florida Baptist Kingdom Education Summit May 11 at First Baptist Church, Orlando. The first 50 pastors and others to register may also play Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge, the world-renowned golf course in Orlando at half the greens fee, with free lunch provided to all participants. For non-golfers, the Holy Land Experience and Scriptorium is offering complimentary admission to all participants.

Gov. rejects pull-tab bingo, legislators talk notification
Parental notification bill stalls in Senate; Webster, family

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-Calling it an expansion of gambling, Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed a measure March 31 that would have allowed veterans groups, charities and churches to sell instant pull-tab bingo cards.

Navy chaplain urges men to ask God for victory, strength and courage

PENSACOLA (FBC)–There’s a spiritual battle raging over the hearts and lives of men today, but weapons to fight the enemy are within reach of every Christian solider.

Florida News Brief

Denial of pro-life literature spawns suit against school board

FORT MYERS (FBW)–A Fort Myers middle school student and her mother have filed a federal lawsuit against the Lee County School District after she was denied the right to distribute literature about abortion and abortion alternatives to her fellow classmates. The incident occurred during last year’s Day of Remembrance, a day set aside to remember the 46 million children lost to elective abortion.

Holy Land Experience sues to avoid county taxes

ORLANDO (FBW)–The Holy Land Experience, operated by the non-profit ministry Zion’s Hope, is at the center of a lawsuit filed against Orange County. The county has taxed part of the Holy Land Experience while granting tax exemptions to similar secular properties such as museums, according to a Liberty Counsel news release.

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

‘God is hugging me,’ Iraq attack survivor says from hospital

DALLAS (BP)–Along one wall of Carrie McDonnall’s hospital room, arms and hands made out of construction paper reach out, as though inviting a hug. Between the arms, messages of love and encouragement nestle, lovingly written by children from Cedar Ridge Baptist Church, Thomasville, N.C.

Women’s Convention stresses passion, heart for God
Beth Moore, Mary Kassian draw 3,500 women to Orlando to learn about God and His holiness

ORLANDO (BP)—Beth Moore encouraged them to challenge their culture. Mary Kassian urged them to develop a more intimate prayer life. Marcos Witt reminded them that God always keeps His promises.

President Bush signs Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004

President George W. Bush signed H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, April 1.

Program seeks to boost IMB volunteers’ effectiveness abroad

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (BP)—Great numbers of Southern Baptist volunteers continue to pursue a call to minister overseas through the International Mission Board. More than 26,000 fanned out across the globe last year alone. Still, volunteers can have an even greater impact, one missions leader says.

National News Briefs

SBC president appoints Resolutions Committee for Indianapolis meeting

DALLAS (BP)–SBC President Jack Graham has named the members of the Resolutions Committee who will serve during the June 15-16 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis.

Jeff Iorg nominated as Golden Gate president

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)–Jeff Iorg, executive director-treasurer of the Northwest Baptist Convention since 1995, has been recommended as the seventh president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

Feature

The Passion of the Christ

Florida churches pursue ‘Passion’ queries, responses

MARIANNA (FBW)–Florida Baptist churches are reporting numerous professions of faith among those who have watched "The Passion of The Christ." Churches are following up on inquiries made by viewers, and hope for continuing results as ticket sales remain strong after six weeks in theaters.

Gibson’s ‘Passion’ drawing large crowds in Arab countries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Mel Gibson’s new movie, "The Passion of The Christ," is drawing large and enthusiastic crowds to theaters in the Arab world.

Missionary Martyrs

Elliots remembered as ‘wholly yielded to God’

CARY, N.C. (BP)—Larry Elliott had a laugh so hearty it could fill the streets of Honduras or the villages of Iraq. When his wife, Jean, smiled, she could light up an entire nation. So said friends and family at a memorial service for the Elliotts in Cary, N.C.

Cooperative Program

Where do your gifts go? Follow the people trail

The story is told of a little boy who badly wanted $100 and prayed for two weeks, but nothing happened. He decided to write God a letter requesting the $100. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to God, U.S.A., they decided to send it to the president. The president was so impressed, touched, and amused, that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy. The little boy was delighted with the $5 and sat down to write a thank you note to God, which read:
Dear God,
Thank you very much for sending the money; however, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through Washington, D.C. and, as usual, they took most of it!

Cooperative Program to SBC, like Hoover Dam to U.S.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Let me give you four characteristics that make the Cooperative Program a superior system for reaching the world with the Gospel. It doesn’t mean that it is the only way to do it, but let me tell you why I believe it is a gift from God. It may be the most effective, efficient, far-reaching, consistent, missionary funding enterprise in the history of Christian denominations. If you think that is an overstatement, I challenge you to compare what’s done through this method versus other methods of missions support.

Media Montage

Florida parent ignited FCC case against ‘Bubba’

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Long before Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake took the stage during Super Bowl halftime, and before Clear Channel fired shock jock Howard Stern, a Jacksonville resident’s complaints to the Federal Communications Commission about "Bubba the Love Sponge" and his indecent radio show resulted in the largest FCC fine ever levied. The case may be the first straw of many that may eventually break the back of the "anything goes" philosophy of American media.

FCC overrules staff, finds expletive violates law

WASHINGTON (BP)–The Federal Communications Commission has overruled its own staff and decided an obscenity for male-female relations violates federal law covering radio and broadcast television.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

April 25: Returning King
Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 2:28 to 3:3

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

May 2: Trusting God
Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 John 2:1-11

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

Explore the Bible

April 25: Diligently Persevering
2 Timothy 2:1-15, 20-21

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

May 2: Setting a good example
2 Timothy 3:1-17

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