In the Witness this week

Florida Evangelism Conference: 'The Cross' gives inspiration
Published March 15, 2007

BRANDON (FBC)—Steadfastly holding to the biblical truth, "The cross makes the difference," nearly 1,500 persons attending the Florida Baptist Evangelism Conference were challenged anew to reach their communities and state with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

New governor opens Florida legislative session
Published March 15, 2007

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—With Florida's newly-elected Governor Charlie Crist on board, social conservatives will be eyeing the governor and Florida's lawmakers closely in the next two months—keeping watch especially on the Senate which has shifted to a more moderate stance after last year's election.

NAMB photo

Thira Siengsukon, a church planting missionary supported by the North American Mission Board and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, leads a revival at Laotian Crievewood Baptist Church in Nashville.

2007 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Chinese-born missionary wins Laotians to Christ
Published March 15, 2007

KANSAS CITY, MO. (NAMB)—"The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us ... possible."

NAMB trustees to vote on Hammond, third-generation missionary
Published March 15, 2007

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Missionary work has been part of Geoff Hammond's life from his earliest days. He was born on the mission field to British parents who were serving in Nigeria. His father was born in China to missionary parents.

Opinion

Editorial

Florida needs to sing a new song
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

I'm pretty sure I've never been accused of being politically correct or an advocate of multiculturalism. That may change with this editorial.

Point of View

Lesbian activist set free in Christ
KELLY BOGGS
Baptist Press

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)—Imagine a prominent conservative Christian publicly announcing that he has renounced heterosexuality and will henceforth and forever be homosexual. Add to the scenario the leader declaring he is dedicated to promoting the glory of gayness and encouraging others to become homosexual. Now try to imagine the mainstream media ignoring such an announcement.

The Secret promotes 'name it-claim it' theology

DON WHITNEY
Baptist Press

I had never watched an entire episode of Oprah until her program on The Secret. In the promo for the show, Oprah announced that the program would present "the secret" to making more money, losing weight, finding the love of your life and achieving job success.

Thirty pints of blood: A contrast in worldviews
CHARLES COLSON
Breakpoint

What difference does a worldview make? Around the world, we are seeing the clash of civilizations in action. In recent days, that clash has given us a story of life, and stories of death.

Florida

Florida News

Florida Evangelism Conference: 'The Cross' gives inspiration

BRANDON (FBC)—Steadfastly holding to the biblical truth, "The cross makes the difference," nearly 1,500 persons attending the Florida Baptist Evangelism Conference were challenged anew to reach their communities and state with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

New governor opens Florida legislative session

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—With Florida's newly-elected Governor Charlie Crist on board, social conservatives will be eyeing the governor and Florida's lawmakers closely in the next two months—keeping watch especially on the Senate which has shifted to a more moderate stance after last year's election.

Florida Baptist women want pastors' help

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Do Florida pastors really understand the women in their congregation? In 2006, author Denise George and The Florida Baptist Witness conducted a statewide survey asking women what they want their pastor to know about women in the church. According to the survey results, here are the top three findings:

BCF conferences set in March, April

GRACEVILLE (BCF)—The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville will host the annual Powell Lecture Series March 26-28 at 10 a.m. and the Annual Evangelism Conference April 9-10 at 10 a.m. in the R. G. Lee Chapel.

Second Baptist Houston staff calls Florida Baptists to action with practical advice

BRANDON (FBC)—Citing statistics that Florida Baptists are baptizing the same number of new believers as they did 25 years ago, even as the state's population has doubled, Ed Young, pastor of Houston's Second Baptist Church, declared, "You are going out of business."

Orlando couple among new missionaries

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BP)—At the foot of Albuquerque's snow-capped Sandia Mountains at Hoffmantown Church, 128 new Southern Baptist missionaries and chaplains were commissioned for service by the North American Mission Board Feb. 25. It was the second-largest missionary commissioning in NAMB history.

Jesus' 'lost tomb' in Fort Lauderdale
Baptist pastor says 'Cradle of Christianity' exhibit is 'great opportunity' for Christians

FORT LAUDERDALE (FBW)—Florida Baptists and other Christians interested in investigating the much-publicized "lost tomb of Jesus" can see it for themselves until April 15 at Fort Lauderdale's Museum of Art.

Legislature Watch

New governor opens Florida legislative session

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—With Florida's newly-elected Governor Charlie Crist on board, social conservatives will be eyeing the governor and Florida's lawmakers closely in the next two months—keeping watch especially on the Senate which has shifted to a more moderate stance after last year's election.

National

National News

2007 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Chinese-born missionary wins Laotians to Christ

KANSAS CITY, MO. (NAMB)—"The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us ... possible."

NAMB trustees to vote on Hammond, third-generation missionary

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—Missionary work has been part of Geoff Hammond's life from his earliest days. He was born on the mission field to British parents who were serving in Nigeria. His father was born in China to missionary parents.

SWBTS trustee officers, McKissic agree to meet

GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)—In a joint announcement March 12, Arlington, Texas, pastor Dwight McKissic and the officers of the board of trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary announced they "have agreed to meet privately and confidentially" and "also agreed to table any recommended action against Rev. McKissic," a first-year board member.

SWBTS officers may have meeting with McKissic

GRAPEVINE, Texas. (BP)—Responding to an inquiry by the Southern Baptist Texan, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Board Chairman Van McClain confirmed plans for the board's officers to meet privately with Dwight McKissic of Arlington to address what McClain deemed possible trustee policy violations during McKissic's first year on the board.

Scholars: 'Jesus tomb' stats don't add up

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—An often-quoted statistic behind the so-called "Jesus tomb" is inflated and based on false assumptions, leading biblical scholars say.

Former professor files suit against SWBTS

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—A former professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has filed a federal lawsuit against the seminary and its president, Paige Patterson, alleging she was dismissed from her tenure-track position because she is a woman.

National News Briefs

Online registration opens for 2007 San Antonio SBC

GuideStone's Adopt An Annuitant ministry expands

Features

Annie Armstrong Offering

2007 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Chinese-born missionary wins Laotians to Christ

KANSAS CITY, MO. (NAMB)—"The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering makes the thing that is impossible among us ... possible."

Obituary

Lillian Isaacs, literacy pioneer, dies at 88 in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Lillian Isaacs, North American missionary and pioneer in literacy missions, died March 2 in Tallahassee. She was 88. She taught thousands of people to read through literacy programs in churches from Kentucky to Alaska, and promoted literacy missions in workshops for teachers nationwide.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

March 25: Jesus Restores Our Lives
John 11:1, 3, 6-7, 38-40, 43-44

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

April 1: Jesus Died for Us
John 12:12-15; 13:21, 26-27; 19:16b-19, 33-37

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

Explore the Bible

March 25: God: The Divine Sociologist
1 Peter 2:13-25

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

April 1: Christian Family Relations
1 Peter 3:1-12

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