Front Page

State leaders allocate funds, promote marriage
$1.3 million for ministries, tsunami
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published February 3, 2005

LEESBURG (FBC)–The distribution of $1.37 million in 2004 Cooperative Program budget overages, adoption of a $1,358,000 goal for the 2005 Maguire State Mission Offering and election of a new associate director in the Partnership Missions Department were among the business conducted by the State Board of Missions Jan. 28 at Lake Yale Conference Center.

Ballot initiative to support marriage amendment gains support
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published February 3, 2005

LEESBURG (FBC)-Unanimously affirming that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only-God-ordained building block of the family and bedrock of civil society,” the State Board of Missions began developing a strategy to pass a constitutional amendment that defines marriage on the Nov. 2006 Florida State ballot.

Photo courtesy Don Buckley

A group of doctors and nurses sponsored by Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola traveled to Banda Aceh, Indonesia in January to minister to tsunami survivors.

Florida doctors, nurses aid tsunami survivors in Indonesia
First Person
DON BUCKLEY
Special to the Witness
Published February 3, 2005

BANDA ACEH (FBW) – “My heart is deeply moved by your compassion for my people” said a community leader in the Aceh province of Indonesia to a group doctors and nurses serving as Florida Baptist volunteers to this tsunami-stricken region of Asia. The group of eight doctors and nurses, sponsored by Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola and organized with only three weeks of preparation time, traveled to this Muslim region on Jan. 15 for 12 days of fruitful ministry. The team was composed of Olive members and others from local churches.

President Bush: History says pro-life movement will prevail
Published February 3, 2005

WASHINGTON (BP)—President Bush told tens of thousands of Americans gathered for the annual March for Life Jan. 24 that based on history, the pro-life movement will succeed.

Daytona Speedway Super Bowl tailgate party planned
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
Published February 3, 2005

DAYTONA (FBW)—On Super Bowl Sunday, Daytona Speedway and Halifax Baptist Association are “pulling out all the stops to attract fans,” according to Dennis Belz, director of missions. Racing fans may enjoy not only the Rolex 24-Hour Race, but also a Super Bowl tailgate party sponsored by area Baptist churches after the race.

Schiavo never had appropriate legal representation, court told
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published February 3, 2005

CLEARWATER (FBW)--Urging the court to not rush into a life-and-death situation at the hands of an “overzealous” attorney, a lawyer for Terri Schiavo’s family argued Jan. 28 that she has never been given her constitutional right to an independent attorney, something that should happen before she is literally starved to death by a court order.

Opinion

Editorial

Predatory businesses want slots in South Florida
Editorial

Last week in this space, I decried politicians in our state who are pushing the something-for-nothing deception of gambling in order to get in on the financial windfall they believe slot machines in South Florida will bring. But it’s not just the politicians who are preying on Floridians with the March 8 ballot referendums in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Point of View

Pre-millennialism offers pragmatic view of Scripture
Point of View

This is the second in a two-part series on the Doctrine of the Second Coming, a fundamental doctrine for the Christian. In last week’s issue, we defined the four categories of interpretation of the last things and many of the terms used when discussing the Second Coming.

Personal Accident Insurance: What is it and why do I need it?
Point of View

They are called accidents for a reason. You usually can’t anticipate or control how, why or when they will happen. But you can prepare for the aftermath of an accident by making sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

BREAKPOINT: Help or hatchet job? The Waxman Report
Point of View

A recent report commissioned by California congressman Henry Waxman (D) casts doubt on the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs. At least, that’s the story promoted by Waxman’s office and by many in the media. Waxman’s researchers found errors in several abstinence-only curricula—for instance, a statement that AIDS can be spread through sweat or tears, and that each parent contributes 24 chromosomes to a child rather than 23.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

State leaders allocate funds, promote marriage
$1.3 million for ministries, tsunami

LEESBURG (FBC)–The distribution of $1.37 million in 2004 Cooperative Program budget overages, adoption of a $1,358,000 goal for the 2005 Maguire State Mission Offering and election of a new associate director in the Partnership Missions Department were among the business conducted by the State Board of Missions Jan. 28 at Lake Yale Conference Center.

Ballot initiative to support marriage amendment gains support

LEESBURG (FBC)-Unanimously affirming that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only-God-ordained building block of the family and bedrock of civil society,” the State Board of Missions began developing a strategy to pass a constitutional amendment that defines marriage on the Nov. 2006 Florida State ballot.

Florida Baptists give record $39.6 million in CP receipts

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—In a year when four hurricanes ripped through the state, damaging 200-plus church buildings and the homes and businesses of church members, Florida Baptists gave more money through the Cooperative Program in 2004 than any other year in their history.

Messianic Jewish leader tells story of conversion

GRACEVILLE (BCF)–Judaism is more than a religion. It’s a culture, a family, a network of friends, a very way of everyday life based intricately on faith. Feasts and joyous celebrations marked with music, dancing and laughter are forever etched into the memories of its believers.

Florida DOMA lawsuits dropped; other suits pending

TAMPA (BP)—Florida attorney Ellis Rubin said Jan. 25 that he is dropping his legal challenges to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, fearful that a loss on the appeals court level or at the Supreme Court would set a legal precedent he wants to avoid.

Florida News Briefs

Team-building conference equips ministry leaders through hands-on training

Creating a dynamic ministry that fulfills God’s work through team development is the focus of the “Building Powerful Ministry Teams” conference held at The Church of Pembroke Pines, Pembroke, Feb. 24. Church staff and lay leaders attending this hands-on training will learn to foster a team environment that shares a common vision and direction while building trust and good group communication.

State Collegiate Retreat, ‘Your First Love,’ at Lake Yale Feb. 25-27

Students from universities across Florida will gather at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, Feb. 25-27 for a weekend of spiritual restoration and recreational activities. The 2005 State Collegiate Retreat is open to church college groups, students involved in Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) and college-aged individuals interested in attending.

NOBTS sponsors Preview Weekend Feb. 24-26 for prospective students

NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student enlistment office will sponsor a Preview Weekend for prospective seminary students on February 24-26 (Thursday-Saturday).

Parenting skills that build stronger families subject of March 5 conference

Learn how to build stronger families at a one-day parenting conference held at Hiland Park Baptist Church, Panama City, March 5. The conference, based on the book Building Strong Parents in Stressful Times, will feature author John Trent, president of Strong Families, a ministry committed to strengthening marriage and family relationships.

PBAU alum host reception for Women of Faith tour Feb. 25 in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH (PBAU)—Palm Beach Atlantic University Alumni Association will host a special book signing and reception with Jennifer Jolly Rothschild, an author, speaker and recording artist. Rothschild, who graduated from PBAU in 1986, will join the Women of Faith Tour, the nation’s largest conference ministry for women, in Fort Lauderdale’s Office Depot Center Feb. 24-26.

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.

National

National News

President Bush: History says pro-life movement will prevail

WASHINGTON (BP)—President Bush told tens of thousands of Americans gathered for the annual March for Life Jan. 24 that based on history, the pro-life movement will succeed.

High court permits conflicts by circuit on ‘Choose Life’ plate

WASHINGTON (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court let stand Jan. 24 a lower court ruling against South Carolina’s pro-life license plate, thereby permitting conflicting opinions at the appellate level.

Draper, younger leaders brainstorm denominational loyalty, involvement

BOSSIER CITY, La. (BP)—What began with a frog in a kettle has evolved into a series of face-to-face dialogues throughout the country that began Jan. 24 in Louisiana.

Transitional pastor training available

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LifeWay)—Transitional pastors prepare churches for the next pastor they call. According to Paul Strahan, pastoral ministry specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, transitional pastors go into churches with the purpose of helping the church in the adjustment period between pastors.

Features

Super Bowl Evangelism

Daytona Speedway Super Bowl tailgate party planned

DAYTONA (FBW)—On Super Bowl Sunday, Daytona Speedway and Halifax Baptist Association are “pulling out all the stops to attract fans,” according to Dennis Belz, director of missions. Racing fans may enjoy not only the Rolex 24-Hour Race, but also a Super Bowl tailgate party sponsored by area Baptist churches after the race.

‘Unprecedented’ level of faith-based activity at Super Bowl XXXIX
Florida Baptist pastor is member of the board of directors of

JACKSONVILLE (BP)–After last year’s internationally televised halftime disaster turned the Super Bowl into R-rated fare, National Football League officials have transformed this year’s week long event into one of the most family friendly ever.

Tsunami

Florida doctors, nurses aid tsunami survivors in Indonesia
First Person

BANDA ACEH (FBW) – “My heart is deeply moved by your compassion for my people” said a community leader in the Aceh province of Indonesia to a group doctors and nurses serving as Florida Baptist volunteers to this tsunami-stricken region of Asia. The group of eight doctors and nurses, sponsored by Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola and organized with only three weeks of preparation time, traveled to this Muslim region on Jan. 15 for 12 days of fruitful ministry. The team was composed of Olive members and others from local churches.

Floridians give generously for tsunami relief

JACKSONVILLE (FBC/FBW)—Florida Baptists have opened their hands generously to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. According to International Mission Board officials, $290,089.69 has been received from Florida Baptists earmarked for the relief work in Southeast Asia.

Cooperative Program

Report of 2004 CP giving by Florida churches

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Beginning on this page is a summary of 2003 and 2004 Cooperative Program and 2004 miscellaneous gifts received in the state convention office from January through December. Churches are encouraged to check the listing carefully and let the state convention’s Business Services Division know if corrections are needed.

Sanctity of Human Life

Schiavo never had appropriate legal representation, court told

CLEARWATER (FBW)--Urging the court to not rush into a life-and-death situation at the hands of an “overzealous” attorney, a lawyer for Terri Schiavo’s family argued Jan. 28 that she has never been given her constitutional right to an independent attorney, something that should happen before she is literally starved to death by a court order.

Media Montage

One of Sudan’s ‘lost boys’ finds life in Jesus Christ

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Thousands of young Sudanese boys grew up fast when civil war and persecution from Islamic fundamentalists drove them out of their country into Ethiopia.

Professor sets forth How Islam Plans to Change the World

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)—In the weeks and months that followed Sept. 11, 2001, churches across America reported a high increase in the number of attendees—and so did mosques across America.

Sound Bites

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 6: If God really loves me
Hosea 1:2-11; 3:1-5

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

February 13: How much does sin cost?
Hosea 4:1-9, 5:13-15

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

Explore the Bible

February 6: Jesus will return
Luke 21:7-11, 25-28, 34-36

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

February 13: Jesus’ ministry continues
Luke 22:14-22, 41-44, 66-71

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