Front Page

Maguire offering strong in spite of storms
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published February 10, 2005

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—For the third time in history Maguire State Mission Offering receipts in 2004 surpassed the million dollar mark as Florida Baptists gave $1,002,196.29 to the annual mission offering.

Photo by Joni B. Hannigan

Jim Bob Williams, a member of Westside Baptist Church, competed on the USA team for the NFL’s Global Junior Championship Feb. 5.

JAX youth plays in NFL Global Junior Championships prior to Super Bowl XXXIX
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
Published February 10, 2005

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Highly paid football professionals were not the only players to take to the gridiron during Super Bowl week in Jacksonville. High school football players from five nations competed in the 9th annual NFL-sponsored Global Junior Championship.

Tampa retiree helps build base station in tsunami devastation
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
Published February 10, 2005

SOUTH ASIA (FBW)—Ernest Buchanan, a member of Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa, traveled to South Asia with a group of 13 from Germantown, Tenn. The group arrived in the tsunami-affected area January 16 and returned to the U.S. 11 days later.

Annie Armstrong missions offering sets record; up 8.5%
LEE WEEKS
North American Mission Board
Published February 10, 2005

ATLANTA, Ga. (BP)—Southern Baptists gave a record $53,845,989 to last year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, exceeding the previous year’s offering by 8.5 percent and nearly reaching the national goal of $54 million.

Opinion

Editorial

Christian discipleship and the Super Bowl
Editorial

I could hear the anguish in his voice.

Point of View

Super Bowl Media Day opportunity to learn ‘Baptist’ style reporting
Point of View

Super Bowl XXXIX was a baptism by fire into the big leagues for Jacksonville and for many of its natives like me.

BREAKPOINT: Does Bush ‘owe’ religious conservatives?
Point of View

“Does Bush Owe the Religious Right?”

Heretical bishop lectures on sexuality at Stetson University
Point of View

“Bishop Spong is the leading voice within modern progressive Christianity, attempting to make Christianity relevant to today’s world,” said Dixon Sutherland, director of Stetson University’s Institute for Christian Ethics. He went on to declare, “The exposure of students to probably the most formative leader of progressive thinking within Christianity today is an important part of our educational mission.”

‘Big brother is watching, but so too is the Father’ says LifeWay president
Point of View

Warning: Reading the following column may lead to your arrest and long-term incarceration.

Bibliocipher

Bibliocipher

Florida

Florida News

Cross roads quarterly receives 2004 Crystal Award of Excellence

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–CROSS ROADS, the quarterly production of the Convention’s Media Services Department, received a Crystal Award of Excellence in the 2004 Communicator Awards, placing the video magazine among the best cable and broadcast programs in the industry.

Florida News Briefs

State Collegiate Retreat at Lake Yale to focus on spiritual restoration

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–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. Evening worship celebrations will feature keynote speaker Greg Pinkner, teaching pastor at Fellowship Church in Knoxville, and music by the Ben Davis Project. The weekend’s activities will center on the theme “Your First Love” based on Revelation 2:2-4.

Disaster relief training scheduled at eight regional sites in 2005

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–The Florida Baptist Men’s Department will sponsor eight regional training sessions for persons interested in participating in the state disaster relief ministry.

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

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–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. During this one-day event, Bob Bumgarner, director of the Florida Baptist Convention Office of Leadership Development will address defining the common purpose of a team, establishing clear roles, working together and crafting strong relationships with team members.

New Bible Study Summit offers Sunday School leaders age-specific training

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–A one-day meeting focused on cultivating “A Heart for all People” through Sunday School and small group programs will be held at First Baptist Church, Pompano Beach, March 12. The South Florida Bible Study Summit, held in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French-Creole, will feature culturally specific training providing insights and teaching tools for Bible study leaders in diversely populated South Florida communities. Spanish sessions will be held jointly with English sessions at First Baptist Church, Pompano Beach. Portuguese sessions will be held at Primeira Igreja Batista Brasileira do sul da Florida, Pompano Beach, and French-Creole conferences will be held at Redemption Baptist Church in Pompano Beach.

Florida Baptist Historical Society seeks Heritage Award nominees

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–The Florida Baptist Historical Society invites nominations for the annual Heritage Award. Nominees may be living or deceased. The nominee should be a person who has exhibited rare and unusual dedication to the cause of Florida Southern Baptist history and one who has made a significant impact through such means as writing Baptist history, teaching Baptist history, and/or promoting the importance of Florida Southern Baptist history.

Maguire State Mission Offering

Maguire offering strong in spite of storms

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—For the third time in history Maguire State Mission Offering receipts in 2004 surpassed the million dollar mark as Florida Baptists gave $1,002,196.29 to the annual mission offering.

National

International News

Millions of Iraqis go to the polls despite death threats

BAGHDAD (BP)—Iraqis turned out in large numbers Jan. 30 for the country’s first democratic elections in 50 years, braving insurgents’ death threats and spurning calls by some of the countrymen for a boycott of the balloting.

Would-be suicide bomber voices change of heart

BAGHDAD (BP)—Ahmed Abdullah al-Shaya, an 18-year-old Saudi, left his homeland last year just after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan with a fire in his heart to eradicate Americans from Arab lands. But his plan for martyrdom backfired, leaving his face and hands horrifically seared and his heart turned toward peace for the Iraqis.

Features

Super Bowl XXXIX

JAX youth plays in NFL Global Junior Championships prior to Super Bowl XXXIX

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Highly paid football professionals were not the only players to take to the gridiron during Super Bowl week in Jacksonville. High school football players from five nations competed in the 9th annual NFL-sponsored Global Junior Championship.

BCM students join in Super Bowl seat cushion project

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–Baptist Collegiate Ministries students from all over Florida and Baptist church members stuffed and placed more than 80,000 seat cushions at Jacksonville’s Alltel Stadium before the Super Bowl.

Eagles’ Christian players strive to be like Jesus

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Prior to Super Bowl Sunday, Corey Simon, defensive tackle for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, said walking on the field would be like mounting the pulpit.

Football provides platform for Patriots’ players

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—When all is said and done, there are more important things than this year’s Super Bowl XXXIX, according to New England Patriots linebacker defensive back Don Davis.

Eagles’ coach, Southern Baptist pastor share passion for Christ

JACKSONVILLE (BP)—Before he stepped on the field Sunday afternoon for what was the biggest game of his coaching career, Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Ted Williams completed all of his pre-game preparations.

Patriots’ coach Markus Paul, chaplain Walt Day, mentor team

JACKSONVILLE (BP)—Markus Paul works throughout the year to make the New England Patriots a bigger, stronger and tougher team in his role as a strength and conditioning coach.

Pat Summerall honored at luncheon

JACKSONVILLE (BP)--Lake City native Pat Summerall was honored at a Legends for Charity Luncheon on the grounds of the Super Bowl XXIX stadium, but after the two-hour tribute Feb. 4, Summerall used his response to talk about the true legendary figure in his life.

Bart Starr presents award at Super Bowl Breakfast

Community-based Super Bowl events draw attention to JAX churches

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-An explosion of fireworks into the night sky over Alltel Stadium on the banks of the St. John’s River in Jacksonville heralded the end of the Super Bowl XXXIX. For New England Patriots fans, the evening was a success with their third championship in four years, scraping by with a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the losing team, there would be comfort in knowing their determination held them to an unprecedented third quarter tie.

Tsunami

Tampa retiree helps build base station in tsunami devastation

SOUTH ASIA (FBW)—Ernest Buchanan, a member of Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa, traveled to South Asia with a group of 13 from Germantown, Tenn. The group arrived in the tsunami-affected area January 16 and returned to the U.S. 11 days later.

Olive medical team reflects on tsunami ministry

SOUTH ASIA (FBW)-After the tsunami laid waste coastal areas of nations surrounding the Indian Ocean, Pensacola medical personnel traveled to the area to treat survivors of the waves’ devastating onslaught. Sponsored by Olive Baptist Church, the group of four physicians and four nurses treated hundreds.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 20: Does God want me back?
Hosea 11:1-11

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

February 27: Jesus lives forever
Luke 24:22-36, 50-53

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

Explore the Bible

February 20: Jesus offers forgiveness
Luke 23:32-47

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

February 27: Jesus lives forever
Luke 24:22-36, 50-53

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