In the Witness this week

2007 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
NAMB sets $57 million national goal
Published February 22, 2007

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (NAMB) — Each year Southern Baptists set aside a week of prayer to reflect on the work of Southern Baptist missionaries who are serving across North America?and to prepare for an offering that has exceeded $1 billion since its inception.

Vacation Bible School EXPO sets pace for 'Game Day' fun
Published February 22, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Nearly 2,000 Vacation Bible School leaders are more prepared than ever before for this year's outreach thanks to VBS previews featuring a new interactive expo.

BP photo

Downed trees, a battered FEMA trailer, and houses with shredded roofs underscore the tornado damage sustained in New Orleans neighborhoods Feb. 13.

Tornado rekindles fears in New Orleans neighborhoods
Published February 22, 2007

NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Terror struck New Orleans Feb. 13 as an early morning tornado touched down in neighborhoods still recovering from Hurricane Katrina's onslaught in August 2005.

Opinion

Point of View

Cruising for a bruising
DON WALTON
Time for Truth Ministries

Of all of the articles I've written, none prompted more negative responses than "Poperah"?an article dealing with the Christ?denying false gospel of positive thinking spirituality being propagated throughout the world by Oprah Winfrey. In today's celebrity culture, anyone daring enough to chip away at the glitter pasted on beloved celebrities by their adoring fans will certainly face a deafening public outcry. Such was the case recently when our Florida Baptist Witness carried my article: "'Make-believers' find a new 'Christ' in Cruise." Although one would have thought that I had learned my lesson by taking on Oprah, I proved to be cruising (pardon the pun) for a bruising by taking on Tom, not to mention tackling Scientology, which happens to be the most litigious religion ever founded in the United States.

More on the tragedy of uselessness
FRANK S. PAGE
Baptist Press

In a first-person column last week, I began looking at Luke 13:1-9 in which our Lord Jesus shows the power of His communication skills. Sometimes we think we are communicating and then later find out that we weren't. We would love to have even just a portion of Jesus' skill in communicating.

God is in the details of caring
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor

Sleeves rolled up and arms immersed in sudsy water, Buck and Debra stood at my kitchen sink scrubbing pots while I recovered from surgery last month.

Medicine and democracy: Caring and convictions
CHARLES COLSON
Breakpoint

If I told you that "doctors' personal beliefs can hinder care," you might guess that I was talking about physicians who would use leeches instead of antibiotics?or, maybe, Jehovah's Witnesses who refused to give their patients blood transfusions.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor
Published February 22, 2007

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.

Cartoon

Cartoon

Florida

Florida News

Groundhog Day tornadoes claim two in Fruitland Park

FRUITLAND PARK (FBW) — Two Fruitland Park congregations are mourning the loss of young people who were killed in the Groundhog Day tornadoes Feb. 2.

Miami association adds seven churches

JACKSONVILLE (FBC) — According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention's Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 18 new churches in January, 2007. The following is a listing of new churches by association:

Ice-storm tests relief team's readiness

PENSACOLA (FBW) — More than two dozen members of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola participated in Florida Baptist Disaster Relief training last spring. They wanted to be prepared to help people in crises. With major hurricanes in mind, church members learned the basics of feeding units and clean-up.

Florida News Briefs

BCF adds counselor, missions professor

BCF, First Baptist Hilliard partner in Brazil

'Cometogethers' for girls set

Mom and Me Getaway in March

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

Vacation Bible School EXPO sets pace for 'Game Day' fun

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Nearly 2,000 Vacation Bible School leaders are more prepared than ever before for this year's outreach thanks to VBS previews featuring a new interactive expo.

Tornado rekindles fears in New Orleans neighborhoods

NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Terror struck New Orleans Feb. 13 as an early morning tornado touched down in neighborhoods still recovering from Hurricane Katrina's onslaught in August 2005.

Fellowship's Ed Young defends appearance of non-trinitarian T.D. Jakes at Creative Church Conference

GRAPEVINE, Texas (SBT)-Pentecostal mega-church pastor T.D. Jakes of Dallas, often criticized for holding a non-trinitarian view of God, will speak for the second time during Fellowship Church of Grapevine's Creative Church Conference (C3) for pastors.

Personal, family renewal stems from men's curriculum

HOUSTON (BP) — With four decades of ministry experience, Buddy Griffin has never been more excited about leading men to a new appreciation for their roles as fathers, husbands and spiritual leaders.

Gender roles in the home often ignored, leader says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — Many Christian men do not know how to exercise biblical leadership in their homes and in practice deny the Scripture's demands that call men to lead, protect and provide for their families, Randy Stinson, leader of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, told students Jan. 31 at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Features

Annie Armstrong Offering

2007 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
NAMB sets $57 million national goal

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (NAMB) — Each year Southern Baptists set aside a week of prayer to reflect on the work of Southern Baptist missionaries who are serving across North America?and to prepare for an offering that has exceeded $1 billion since its inception.

AAEO Prayer Guide

AAEO: Fast Facts

The reason we give to AAEO: To help our missionary force reach for Christ an estimated 248 million lost people in the United States and Canada; that's three of four people.

How 2007 AAEO gifts will be used

Last year (2006), receipts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering(r) for North American Missions exceeded $57 million. This year's goal of $57 million will continue to help more than 5,300 missionaries, many of them jointly sponsored through partnerships with NAMB and state conventions.

Media Montage

B&H Academic publishes texts with Great Commission focus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Publishers in the United States release more than 195,000 new titles annually, and LifeWay Christian Resource's Ray Clendenen wants to make sure at least some of those titles contribute to rigorous academic discussions.

LifeWay.com Introduces RSS Feeds

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Staying up-to-date on the news, resources, events and other ministries of LifeWay Christian Resources became simpler when LifeWay.com began offering RSS feeds in January 2007.

Obituary

Milton Boyd, pioneer in African-American church development, dies

Nell Ganey dies at 83

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

February 25: Show Me the Proof
John 6:30-31, 35-36, 41-47, 66-69

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

March 4: Jesus Forgives Our Sins
John 8:2-11, 30-36

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

Explore the Bible

February 25: The Value of Godly Leadership
Esther 8-10

Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

March 4: Eulogizing a Saving God
1 Peter 1:1-12

Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.