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Marriage amendment initiative launched at Valentine's Day news conference Florida Baptists join year-long petition campaign to gather 600,000 plus signatures: ORLANDO (FBW) – A broad-based coalition of religious and pro-family organizations – including the Florida Baptist Convention – launched on Valentine’s Day an ambitious citizen initiative to amend Florida’s Constitution defining marriage as “the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife.”

IMB photo by Matthew Miller

An Indonesian child who survived the Dec. 26 earthquake and subsequent tsunami occupies part of her day playing in water in a resettlement area.

Tsunami response raises $6.8 million Baptists close gap of those who have not heard: RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Southern Baptists‚ record giving to tsunami victims and their on-site relief efforts gave International Mission Board trustees plenty to applaud during their Jan. 24-27 meeting in Richmond, Va. But the growing death toll reminded them of unfinished work among people who have never heard the Gospel.
Terri Schiavo again threatened with starvation after judge’s ruling Second U.S. Supreme Court appeal expected: LAKELAND (FBW)–For the second time in less than a year, the U.S. Supreme Court will be asked to consider an appeal related to Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged Florida woman whose plight has pitted pro-life and euthanasia adversaries against each other in a case drawing world-wide attention.
LifeWay’s Jimmy Draper announces retirement: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—LifeWay Christian Resources‚ trustees immediately will begin the search for a new president following the Feb. 7 announcement by James T. Draper Jr. that he plans to retire from the position effective Feb. 1, 2006.

Opinion

Florida Baptists, you asked for a marriage amendment; now what will you do? Editorial JAMES A SMITH SR. Executive Editor: Last November at the annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention, Florida Baptists enthusiastically endorsed a call for a state constitutional amendment to protect marriage.

BREAKPOINT: ‘God looks lovingly upon us despite our own natures’ Point of View CHARLES COLSON BreakPoint: In the wake of the tsunami that claimed more than 220,000 lives, some people were asking hard questions. Faced with such devastation, they wanted to know, how was it possible to believe in a good, all-powerful God?
‘Be fruitful and multiply,’ Christians should still consider Point of View MARK COPPENGER Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: EVANSTON, Ill. (BP)—A couple of years ago, I was discussing Genesis 1:28 with a group of Christians when one ventured the opinion that the part about being fruitful and multiplying was well taken care of. With over six billion people on earth, and counting, we were plenty crowded.
Be aware of important changes in tax laws Point of View JULIE BLOSS GuideStone Financial Resources: Recent changes could affect your 2004 federal income tax return and your tax planning for 2005. Here are some highlights:

Pastor to ride bicycle 900 miles across Florida to raise money for church: FORT PIERCE (FBC)—Fort Pierce pastor Andrew Boyd will embark on a 900 mile, 40-day trip from the Alabama-Florida State line to Key West on March 7, “prayer-cycling” to raise $1 million for new church facilities.
BCF, Graceville Elementary School partner for A’s: GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Walking down the halls of Graceville Elementary School (GES) in the rural Florida panhandle community brings sights and sounds of childhood memories. Colorful art projects line the walls and the sound of children’s laughter fills the air. Around the corner happy chaos fills the indoor playground as students and teachers alike avoid the unusually frigid air outside.

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.

Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire holds promise for people of faith: SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (BP)—A new opportunity for peace in the Middle East emerged Feb. 8 when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reached a verbal cease-fire agreement.
Messianic Jews persecuted in Israel, seen as impure: JERUSALEM (BP)—Anti-Christian groups regularly vandalize billboards rented by the church Meno Kalisher leads. Opponents recently organized a campaign to spread false rumors about Kalisher’s moral integrity among his neighbors. Kalisher even believes his opponents have tapped believers’ telephones on occasion in order to monitor their conversations.
Education, faith in Christ pivotal in battling Africa’s AIDS crisis: MBARARA, Uganda (BP)—The HIV/ AIDS epidemic ravaging more than 39 million lives around the world cannot be stopped with mere money, says a Southern Baptist missionary who, as a healthcare worker, has battled the disease in Africa for a decade.
Twenty years later, AIDS battle in Africa turns toward the spiritual: MBARARA, Uganda (BP)—The emaciated woman lies on a wafer-thin foam mattress, jammed in the corner. Her only pillow is a pile of rags stuffed under her head.

'The Passion' finds a place among Templeton nominees: LOS ANGELES (BP)-A week after the Oscar nominees were announced-with only scant attention given to "The Passion of The Christ"-the Mel Gibson film was among the headliners on another Hollywood award list.
Changed lives, church depicted in movie by Baptist minister 'The Touch' tells story of ministry to the needy through First Baptist, Leesburg: LEESBURG (FBW)-"Executive Producer: God."
Minister, film-maker sees no conflict in Christian involvement in Hollywood: LEESBURG (FBW)-Art Ayris is not your typical film-maker. But, then again, he's not your typical Baptist minister, either.

Souper Bowl of Caring, Taste of the NFL raise hunger funds: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–Two Super Bowl-related events aimed at easing hunger both took place on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 5-6.

Rick Warren, Richard Land among Time’s top 25 evangelicals: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Joining Billy and Franklin Graham on Time magazine’s list of the 25 “Most Influential Evangelicals in America” were Southern Baptists Rick Warren, Richard Land, Chuck Colson, and Tim and Beverly LaHaye.
Groundbreaking: Homosexuality finding its way into children’s cartoons: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Seven years after ABC aired its controversial “coming out” episode of “Ellen,” homosexuality appears to be breaking new ground again—this time in cartoons.

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 20: Jesus offers forgiveness Luke 23:32-47: Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.

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.