Front Page

Court-approved abortions for Florida girls in foster care common, judges say
Published May 19, 2005

WASHINGTON (BP)–A 13-year-old foster girl’s recent court-approved abortion apparently is not uncommon in Florida.

BP file photo by Kent Harville

Former SBC President Tom Elliff, shown here addressing a “Kingdom Families” conference in 2003, notes that 3,571 divorces take place each day in America.

New divorces impact 3,500 households every day
Published May 19, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A recent New York Times article carried the headline “Divorce Rate: It’s Not as High as You Think.” The text went on to explain that the figure often tossed around, which claims half of all U.S. marriages end in divorce, is based on a flawed calculation.

Fort Lauderdale site of first C3 regional conference
Published May 19, 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE (FBW)–Speaking at the first regional C3 Creative Church Conference May 9 at Flamingo Road Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Ed Young Jr. told 650 church leaders that churches should not ask how they can be creative, but instead ask what it is that is keeping them from unleashing their God-given creativity.

Opinion

Guest Editorial

Acts 1:8: What just one church can do
Guest Editorial

EDITORS’ NOTE: Last year, the Southern Baptist Convention's mission partners launched an initiative to assist churches in developing a comprehensive missions strategy based on Acts 1:8 in the New Testament. This column provides a biblical overview of the Acts 1:8 Challenge (www.ActsOne8.com), which now has more than 900 registered churches. The Acts 1:8 Challenge is a missions implementation strategy for the SBC's Empowering Kingdom Growth emphasis (www.empoweringkingdomgrowth.net).

Point of View

Sullivan: Preachers must be ‘assured of a divine call’
Point of View

The prophet Jeremiah received a clear and divine call from God in Jeremiah 1:4-9. Those of us who are proclaimers of the Gospel must too be assured of a divine call, a divine purpose and the unction of the Holy Spirit.

Keeping the ticker ticking
The role of cholesterol in heart disease
Point of View

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of the body. It helps make cell membranes, some hormones, and Vitamin D. Cholesterol comes from two sources: your body and the food you eat. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Eating too much cholesterol in animal foods like meats, whole milk dairy products, egg yolks, poultry, and fish can make your cholesterol go up. However, it is the saturated fat in your diet that is the main culprit in causing your cholesterol to rise.

Getting your church outdoors for summer
Point of View

Unless they have x-ray vision, people in your community can’t see the joy and fellowship that’s going on inside your church building! With summer approaching, why not plan an occasional outdoor event?

BREAKPOINT: The right of rights: Little girls and abortion
Point of View

In the past several weeks, two events taking place 857 miles apart show just how absurd our ideas about “freedom” have become.

Florida

Florida News

Fort Lauderdale site of first C3 regional conference

FORT LAUDERDALE (FBW)–Speaking at the first regional C3 Creative Church Conference May 9 at Flamingo Road Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Ed Young Jr. told 650 church leaders that churches should not ask how they can be creative, but instead ask what it is that is keeping them from unleashing their God-given creativity.

SBACS recognizes high school seniors

WINDEMERE (FBW)–One Florida Christian school student has been selected as a regional scholarship winner and 10 were chosen as finalists from a field of 46 finalists from eight states in the B.R. Chamberlain Foundation Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS) Outstanding Scholars Award Program for 2005, according to a press release.

Retreat center built on muddy 20-year dream

Ismael Negrin paved the way for Hispanic churches

KEY WEST (FBC)–With his feet planted solidly in both the United States and Cuba, Ismael Negrin, a missionary appointed to Cuba by the Home Mission Board (HMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention, was one of the Cuban pastors in the mid-1950’s who helped pave the way for the growth of Florida’s Hispanic congregations.

Bill Billingsley: Pillar of anti-abortion movement drafted statement

HOLLYWOOD (FBC)–Starting new churches and offering biblically-based community outreach were hallmarks of Bill Billingsley’s legacy in Broward County.

Florida News Briefs

Special Education Retreat June 17-18 at Lake Yale Conference Center

Solutions: E/S Conference emphasizes improving church outreach

Choose Life for Father's Day

Pompano Beach FBC welcomes new pastor on 90th anniversary

National

National News

Court-approved abortions for Florida girls in foster care common, judges say

WASHINGTON (BP)–A 13-year-old foster girl’s recent court-approved abortion apparently is not uncommon in Florida.

New divorces impact 3,500 households every day

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A recent New York Times article carried the headline “Divorce Rate: It’s Not as High as You Think.” The text went on to explain that the figure often tossed around, which claims half of all U.S. marriages end in divorce, is based on a flawed calculation.

Federal judge blocks district's pro-homosexual curriculum

GREENBELT, Md. (BP)–Handing pro-family groups a major victory, a federal judge May 5 blocked a controversial sex-education program from going into effect at a large Maryland public school system, saying it took sides in the debate over homosexuality by painting conservative Christians as “unenlightened” and “misguided.”

Baylor exec defends Planned Parenthood's sex-ed program
Teens receive booklet containing cartoon-like depictions of couples engaging in sexual intercourse

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Baylor University’s new interim president, William (Bill) Underwood, stated reasons May 2 why he has been a financial supporter of a Planned Parenthood sexuality program for youth entering the fifth through ninth grade.

Embattled N.C. pastor resigns; says he was misunderstood

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (BP)—Reading from a prepared statement, North Carolina pastor Chan Chandler told members of East Waynesville Baptist Church May 10 he was resigning as the church’s minister, effective immediately.

LifeWay trains leaders in 58 nations in discipleship
Materials in 100 languages for 22,000 churches

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–More than 22,000 churches in 58 countries have been strengthened in a discipleship initiative by LifeWay International, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

EKG turns growing pains into vision for Kingdom growth

LEXINGTON, Ky. (BP)–The logistical and financial stress of packing up the family and moving are enough to cause any pulse to race. In the fall of 2004, with his congregation contemplating its impending move, Bill Henard prescribed some preventive medicine to quiet any troubled hearts – a collective EKG for the church family.

Spiritual economics: What's your grade?
First Person

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Find a successful business and you’ve probably discovered a company that understands supply and demand. Supply and demand is the economic principle that certain businesses supply or provide the goods and services that consumers demand or want. The greater the demand, the greater the opportunity to supply the desired goods and services and the more likely the company will make a handsome profit. It’s a basic – but important – business principle.

National News Briefs

Homosexual ‘World Pride’ event in Jerusalem postponed

JERUSALEM (BP)–A massive homosexual pride event scheduled to take place in Jerusalem this August has been postponed in light of Israel’s scheduled withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the Jerusalem Post reported May 5.

Features

Youth News

‘Launching Kids’ book parallels shuttle launch principles

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Preparing children for a successful life takes more than developing a solid foundation. Parents also need to give their children a successful launch into adulthood, according to a new book by Bob and Cheryl Reccord.

Parents, churches should involve teens in prayer, worship
Prof: Youth pastors need to be the best Bible teachers

HOUSTON (BP)--The United States will have more teenagers in 2006 than any time in its history – a fact that Alvin Reid sees as presenting new challenges for today’s youth pastors and parents.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

May 29: Leave a Godly Legacy
Genesis 24:1-4, 12-16, 50-51, 61-67

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

June 5: Life begins at Reception
John 1:10-13; 3:5-8, 14-18, 36

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

Explore the Bible

May 29: Rely on the Lord’s Faithfulness
Lamentations 3:19-33, 37-39

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

June 5: Taking on a tough task
Ezekiel 1:1-3; 2:3-5; 3:4-11

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