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Summit explores ‘Kingdom Education’ efforts ‘Children are God’s homework assignment,’ participants told: ORLANDO (FBW)—Billed as an “historic” meeting of Southern Baptist pastors, state convention leaders and Christian school administrators, the May 11 Florida Baptist Kingdom Education Summit was held with the hope that the gathering would “help to energize our school movement and help focus it on how we can help churches grow,” said organizer Ed Gamble, executive director of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools.

FBC photo

Thom Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at SBTS, talks about Sunday School May 15 in Brandon.

Sunday School not a ‘dinosaur of antiquity,’ Rainer says: BRANDON (FBC)—Discrediting ideas of Sunday School as a “dinosaur of antiquity,” Thom Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., encouraged church leaders at the Central Florida Sunday School Conference, May 15, to strive for greatness in ministry.
SBOM suggests compliance requirements for cooperation bylaw: LAKE YALE (FBC) -The State Board of Missions strengthened the enforcement of Bylaw 2 that defines Baptist cooperation during its May 21 meeting at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

Opinion

Point of View

‘Don’t lose the dimension of the miracle in the new birth’ Point-of-View JOHN SULLIVAN Executive Director-Treasurer Florida Baptist Convention: This week concludes a look at the doctrine of the Christian life, exploring how the Bible and theologians define the Christian experience. This doctrine study has centered on an examination of terms describing the Christian life found in Scripture. This week, the terms redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, new birth and sanctification will be examined.
Call for church to take a stand confused as ‘the church stepping into the political arena’ Point-of-View J. THOMAS GREEN III president, Florida Baptist State Convention: The Biblical teaching that believers are the salt of the earth challenges the church in defining ministry. The impact of the church extends beyond the borders of the campus into a world of darkness and desperation. The spiritual warfare that the church encounters is real. The church can take a position of silence or take a stand.
BREAKPOINT: Needed: Christian worldview thinkers in ‘marketplace of ideas’ Point-of-View CHARLES COLSON: Not long ago I received a letter from a long-time supporter of Prison Fellowship. He told me he was frankly alarmed over some of the cultural battles he’d seen me leap into.

Letters to the Editor

Letters Readers voice views on ‘sole membership,’ King apology

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

South Florida seminary classes train future leaders: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Long days and sleepless nights typify Efrain Salcedo’s weekly schedule.
Indiana Baptists plead for ‘Crossover Indianapolis’ help: INDIANAPOLIS (FBC)—A special appeal has been issued for Florida Baptists to assist Indiana Baptists in “Crossover Indianapolis,” an annual evangelism emphasis held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention meeting, June 15-16.
Sullivan multicultural award presented at BCF: GRACEVILLE (BCF)—In a May 5 chapel service at the Baptist College of Florida, Sid Smith, director of the African-American Ministries Division of the Florida Baptist Convention, presented the John and Nancy Sullivan Multicultural Award to Winston W. Rudolph.
Minister’s call of God served by his vision from God: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—When James McCall was in his mid-teens, two men whom he had never met were laying the foundation for something that would make a world of difference in McCall’s life and in countless other lives.

Florida News Brief

United Christian Giving luncheon to feature entertainer Pat Boone

Florida Focus

Florida Focus

Training Update

Training Update

National

National News

Annuity Board responds to Carnival Cruise controversy: DALLAS (BP)—Amid recent reports that a homosexual advocacy group is planning an event called “Gay Days” on a Carnival cruise ship, the Annuity Board has issued a release to address concerns about its investment in Carnival Cruise Lines.
The full text of the Annuity Board news release
SBC seminary presidents, faculties affirm biblical marriage between one man and one woman: WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)—The presidents of the six Southern Baptist seminaries issued a joint statement May 17 upholding marriage as the permanent union between one man and one woman as defined by God in the Bible. They called on all Southern Baptist churches to stand in defense of the institution of marriage.
Let No Man Put Asunder: A Resolution in Defense of Marriage

National News Brief

Billy Graham may postpone Crusade after fall

Editor’s note: Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, announced May 27 that his father’s summer crusades in Kansas City and Los Angeles will be postponed until the fall, due to the elder Graham’s health problems. An updated story will appear in the June 3 issue of Florida Baptist Witness

KANSAS CITY (BP)--The Heart of America Billy Graham Crusade general committee is exploring all options -– including possible postponement – for the crusade scheduled June 17-20 in Kansas City in light of the 85-year-old evangelist’s current hospitalization.

Regents vote 18-17 to keep Baylor president

WACO, Texas (BP)--Baylor University President Robert Sloan narrowly retained his position when the school's regents voted 18-17 in his favor May 14.

Feature

Kingdom Education

Summit explores ‘Kingdom Education’ efforts ‘Children are God’s homework assignment,’ participants told: ORLANDO (FBW)—Billed as an “historic” meeting of Southern Baptist pastors, state convention leaders and Christian school administrators, the May 11 Florida Baptist Kingdom Education Summit was held with the hope that the gathering would “help to energize our school movement and help focus it on how we can help churches grow,” said organizer Ed Gamble, executive director of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools.
What is ‘Kingdom Education’?: ORLANDO (FBW)—A fledgling movement among Southern Baptists to promote denomination-wide Christian education for children in elementary and secondary schools is known as “Kingdom education.” The concept was promoted at a May 11 Florida Baptist Kingdom Education Summit jointly sponsored by the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools and Florida Baptist Convention.
Kingdom Education Resources
Anti-public schools resolution finds little support at Summit: ORLANDO (FBW)—A resolution calling for a Southern Baptist exodus from public schools, proposed by two laymen for consideration by the Southern Baptist Convention during its upcoming annual meeting in Indianapolis June 15-16, found little support at a May 11 meeting of Southern Baptist backers of Christian schools.
Christian Education Resolution: CHRISTIAN EDUCATION RESOLUTION
Submitted Jointly by T.C. Pinckney and Bruce N. Shortt To the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention
April 26, 2004
What can the SBC do to support ‘Kingdom Education’?: Florida Baptist Witness asked Ed Gamble, executive director of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools, to outline what he believes can be done within the Southern Baptist Convention to support the efforts of grassroots Southern Baptists who are engaged in Christian schools.
The Foundation of a Kingdom School: Building a Kingdom School is no easy task.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

JUNE 6: Baptism Acts 2:36-41; Romans 6:1-10: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
JUNE 13:The Lord's Supper Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

JUNE 6: Pass The Torch 2 Kings 1-2: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.
JUNE 13: Hold on to God-given Dreams 2 Kings 3-4: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.