Front Page

Florida Senate approves parental notification
House unlikely to agree to Senate version, citing unintended consequences that may result from language regarding exemptions

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Florida state senators engaged in nearly two hours of impassioned debate April 15 before passing a measure designed to let voters decide if parents should be notified of their minor child’s abortion.

Pastor ‘confident’ American hostage in Iraq growing in faith

MACON, Miss. (BP)—Thomas Hamill’s faith was just beginning to grow when he was captured by militants in Iraq, said the pastor of the church he attended in Mississippi.

SBC shows growth in membership, decline in baptisms in 2003

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention reported a record membership of 16,315,050, up .41 percent over 2002, and grew to 43,024 churches, an increase of 249 new congregations, according to statistics released in the 2003 SBC Statistical Summary.

Florida statistics closely mirror national ACP

JACKSONVILLE (FBC) Florida Baptists added 49 new congregations to increase to 2,756 churches and church-type missions in 2003 and grew to a record 1,072,616 members according to the Annual Church Profile statistics released this month by the Florida Baptist Convention.

Opinion

Editorial

Florida should ban juvenile executions
Editorial
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

Just as Florida Speaker Johnnie Byrd (R-Plant City) has rightly and courageously championed putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot requiring parental notice for minors seeking abortions, he should now support legislation to change statutes which currently permit minors to be subjected to execution.

Point of View

God’s ‘amazing grace’ at work in Cuba convention
Point-of-View
JOHN SULLIVAN
Executive Director-Treasurer,
Florida Baptist Convention

My excitement about what God is doing in the Kingdom work normally runs open throttle. But I confess that my visits to fellow Baptists in Haiti and Cuba push the throttle a little more. The Father is doing some great work in these countries.

Immanuel doesn’t live here anymore: Baptists and Jewish evangelism, again
Point-of-View
RUSSELL D. MOORE
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“What a friend we have in You Know Who.” They might not be singing that hymn this Sunday at Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., but they’re not far off. That’s because Southside’s joint “Baptist/Jewish worship services” are the model for a new effort at Baptist/Jewish “dialogue.” Just like Southside, some Baptists have concluded that Jewish/Christian relations are easy, if you just don’t talk about Jesus. In other words, the Jewish evangelism debate is on again.

BREAKPOINT: Thinking ‘wisely’ about how technology impacts worship
Point-of-View
CHARLES COLSON

A congregation was faced with a financial dilemma. They had just installed a very expensive, high-end audio and video system for their church sanctuary and were way over budget. To solve the problem, the congregation decided to lay off one of its two pastors. Technology, they were forced to conclude, had a higher priority than pastoral care.

Letters

Letters

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Orlando Magic’s DeClercq finds strength in God’s promises despite losing season

ORLANDO (FBW)-Basketball might be just a game to some, but for Orlando Magic center Andrew DeClercq, it’s a lot more.

‘Operation: Beans, Rice and Water’ to assist Haiti churches

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Alarmed by reports of continuing hunger among the 523 Baptist churches in Haiti, Florida Baptists are being called upon once again to initiate a food distribution plan to feed children and adults who attend Haiti’s Baptist churches.

Historical Vignette: ‘The Million Soul Man’

Elamb Jackson Daniels (1908-1987) was born at O’Brien, 20 miles south of Live Oak near the Suwannee River. Daniels was one of eight children and was born into a family that had known material prosperity due to hard work and wise investing. His father was a farmer-timberman and was willing to work hard and risk. Much was lost but much was also gained. This was not lost on young E. J.

Training Update

National Day of Prayer set for May 6

COLORADO SPRINGS (NDP) —As American troops continue fighting for liberty in various countries, United States citizens are preparing to celebrate their freedom to gather, worship and pray. Millions will answer the call to prayer on May 6, the 53rd annual National Day of Prayer, by flocking to observances held in public venues to intercede for the nation.

Florida News Brief

Beth Moore to speak at SBC Ministers’ Wives Conference

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Beth Moore, acclaimed Bible teacher and author, will speak to ministers’ wives on being “custom made by the Creator” at the 49th annual Ministers’ Wives Conference June 15 held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. One of LifeWay Christian Resources’ best selling Bible study authors, Moore speaks at conferences and special events worldwide. She is founder of Living Proof Ministries, dedicated to promoting biblical literacy. Moore will expound on Colossians 3:9-10, the scriptural basis for this year’s conference theme “The Designer’s Label.”

Sunday School Conference May 15 at First Baptist, Brandon

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Advancing Kingdom work through Sunday School programs can resemble a puzzle, finding the right piece for each place to create a complete picture.

Insurance promotes teen driver safety through ‘I Promise’

The “I Promise Program,” designed to promote teen driver safety, is now available through Mel Himes & Associates Insurance Agency in DeLand at no cost. Previously available at a cost of $49, the program was written to reduce the risk of teen driver car crashes, according to an agency 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

SWBTS trustees elect two deans, approve M.Div, college

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary elected two new deans during their semiannual meeting on the seminary’s Fort Worth, Texas, campus April 6.

National News Briefs

Frist signs on as co-sponsor of Federal Marriage Amendment

WASHINGTON (BP)—Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has signed on as a co-sponsor of the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, adding momentum to those hoping for a vote on the amendment this year.

Missouri judge clarifies convention entity ruling

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP)—A Missouri judge entered an order on April 7 refusing to reconsider his March 11 ruling against the Missouri Baptist Convention in its legal effort to return Missouri Baptist College to the convention along with four other breakaway entities.

IMB search committee nominates overseas VP

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—A successor to Avery Willis will be nominated by a search committee when International Mission Board trustees meet April 26-28 in Nashville, Tenn.

Feature

Baptist Identity

Mohler: SBC must build on ‘second chance’ for healthy future

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—The conservative resurgence gave the Southern Baptist Convention a second chance at establishing biblical orthodoxy but did not guarantee the denomination a healthy future, R. Albert Mohler Jr. said in the keynote address at a conference on Baptist identity April 6 at Union University, Jackson, Tenn.

Conservative resurgence about ‘theology,’ not ‘politics’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Theology, not politics, was the fuel that fired the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention, members of a panel at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said April 13 during a 25th anniversary commemoration of the resurgence.

Historical confessions guard against heresy, leaders say

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—What role should confessions of faith play in Southern Baptist life? Are they un-Baptist and a violation of Christian liberty? Or, is their usage a good way to guard against the teaching of heresy in seminaries and on the mission field?

Professors discusss implications of biblical church membership, discipline

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—Baptists must have a biblical view of church discipline if they are to have a biblical understanding of church membership, two Southern Baptist professors said during an April 6-7 conference at Union University.

Media Montage

God’s love ‘landed in our town’ recalls Worship Circus

LONGVIEW, Wash. (BP)—“I remember the day when the love of God landed in our town / He took all the silent and broken hearts, fixed them up and gave them a sound / You had almost every different kind of kid from every different kind of social background / Taking all the cool they had and praising God, as He spun them around / When God came to town.”

Hymns remain most popular as use of praise music grows

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Studies show that while praise and worship choruses are being used more often in America’s churches, traditional hymns are still the most frequently selected choice of church members.

Revival may take root in today’s youth, prof says

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)—Alvin Reid has written multiple books, holds the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a mentor to future pastors.

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.