In the Witness this week

How to decide on a presidential candidate
DAVID ETTINGER
Special to the Witness
Published January 24, 2008

ORLANDO (FBW)—Think you've got it all figured out, huh?

Miami Baptists announce opposition to slots referendum
Gov. Bush, Sen. Graham sign letters opposing slots
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published January 24, 2008

MIAMI (FBW)—The Miami Baptist Association's Administrative Committee voted unanimously Jan. 15 to urge Southern Baptists to vote against the expansion of gambling in Miami-Dade County Jan. 29 when a referendum will be on the ballot to permit slot machines at the county's pari-mutuel facilities.

Florida Marriage Amendment in danger of missing 2008
Florida Baptists' legislative consultant says situation
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published January 24, 2008

ORLANDO (FBW)—John Stemberger, state chairman of Florida4Marriage.org, Jan. 14 declared a state of "constitutional emergency" when he learned about 22,000 petitions are still needed by Feb. 1 to place the Florida Marriage Amendment on the ballot for 2008.

Jefferson County says 'no' to horsetrack
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published January 24, 2008

MONTICELLO (FBW)—As the hands on the clock swept past twelve over six times in the dignified courtroom of the Monticello Courthouse in Jefferson County, a gold state seal on the wall reminded: "In God We Trust." It was the day the residents of tiny Lloyd took on high stakes lawyers for big time gaming interests. And won.

Opinion

Point of View

Florida Baptists help the desperate in Haiti
JOHN SULLIVAN, Executive Director-Treasurer, Florida Baptist Convention

Desperation must be among the most agonizing facts of life. To be in a position that offers little or no hope; to be dependent upon someone else for your very survival; to be so poor that you do not register on the radar screen of most benevolent organizations because they see no hope for you; to be isolated from the world that could help but is hindered by government regulation. This is how I feel about Haiti. They are desperate.

BF&M Article 1: The Scriptures
MARK RATHEL
Special to Florida Baptist Witness

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of commentaries examining and explaining the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention's confession of faith.

Politics, the church, and the common good
CHARLES COLSON

If you're like I am, your New Year's resolutions seldom make it to the end of January. So rather than lay out resolutions, I want to simply share some thoughts about the New Year—a year that will be dominated by this year's presidential election.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor
Published January 24, 2008

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.

Florida

Florida News

Debate on proposed science standards continues

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The debate was split at a public hearing in Jacksonville Jan. 3, a meeting scheduled for the public to air questions, comments and concerns regarding the new science standards to be implemented in Florida's public schools for the next ten years.

Proposed horse track in Jefferson County draws concern

LLOYD (FBW)—It was an unexpected Christmas gift David Hall wishes would go away.

Missionary appointment, evangelization of South America featured in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE (FBC)—The appointment of 39 international missionaries to serve throughout the world will be the highlight of the 2008 South America Mobilization Summit at Westside Baptist Church in Gainesville Jan. 30-Feb. 1.

BCF professors to preach on The Baptist Faith and Message

GRACEVILLE (BCF)—At a time when distinctives define who Baptists are The Baptist College of Florida is taking the lead in presenting, reviewing, and expounding on the articles of Biblical doctrines found in The Baptist Faith & Message. Senior administrators and BCF professors will preach through the articles during the 10 a.m. chapel services in the R. G. Lee Chapel throughout the Spring semester. The doctrinal emphasis and preaching series is open to the public:

Miami officials ease requirements on zoning for church properties

MIAMI (FBW)—Facing a lawsuit by two non-denominational churches, Miami's County Commissioners voted in December to change the acreage requirements for church properties. Several churches, most meeting in warehouses or storefronts, have had to close their doors because they did not meet the requirements for properties which are used as church buildings.

Amendment needs more signatures

ORLANDO (FBW)—John Stemberger, state chairman of Florida4Marriage.org, said Jan. 14 the organization is not interested in whose fault it is that there are now too few signatures for the Florida Marriage Amendment to go on the ballot.

Florida News Briefs

Ministry Assistants Conference set for Graceville Feb. 15 at BCF

Children's Ministry Day set Feb. 16

2008 Mission Team training for girls includes neighborhood survey

CRESTVIEW (FBC)—All 2008 Acteen Activators and girls who will serve on Youth on Mission, World Changers or Youth Mission Teams and prospective 2009 participants are encouraged to attend the hands-on training weekend Feb. 1-2 at First Baptist Church in Crestview.

Living for Jesus Mom and Me Getaway 2008 provides chance for quality time

One church plants three new works

National

National News

FBC Dallas pastor to nominate Mohler for SBC president

CP survey sent to churches

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman Nov. 9 mailed a letter to every church pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention asking him to participate in a Cooperative Program/Stewardship survey.

Union University to host Baptist Worship Identity Symposium Feb. 14-16

JACKSON, Tenn. (UU)—Union University will host a major conference in February focused on the importance of worship in Baptist life.

Sanctity of Human Life

WORLD honors Leesburg Pregnancy Care Center director

LEESBURG (FBW)—Wanda Kohn, director of the Pregnancy Care Center at First Baptist Church in Leesburg, says she is in "the people business," and she is enthusiastically pro-life on behalf of unborn babies whose futures are in danger, and on behalf of their mothers who don't know the love and forgiveness Jesus offers.

Orlando Pregnancy Center breaks record in 2007

ORLANDO (BP)—Jan. 22 will mark the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's historic and horrific Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in America. Southern Baptists won't be celebrating, though.

Exploring 12 common myths about legal abortion

In the past decade, a growing mountain of scientific facts, books and testimonies have helped unravel a three decades' assault on unborn life and the victimization of frightened, expectant mothers. However, it appears many Christians are still at a loss at how to speak from a pro-life position to people who disregard biblical principles.

The Miracle Within

Could you pass? Website is about Roe v. Wade

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—When it comes to Roe v. Wade, Americans are, at best, inconsistent, and at worst, confused.

Teen birth rate rises for first time in 14 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The birth rate among teenagers in the United States rose in 2006 for the first time since 1991 along with the number of births to unmarried women, according to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Election '08

INTERVIEW PART 1: Policy issues—Huckabee expresses vision & tradition

EDITORS’ NOTE: Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, is a Southern Baptist running for U.S. president in 2008. In September, Baptist Press contacted his campaign and today published a package about Huckabee’s policy positions and values.

INTERVIEW PART 2: Values & beliefs—Huckabee will seek to keep the faith

EDITORS’ NOTE: Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, is a Southern Baptist running for U.S. president in 2008. In September, Baptist Press contacted his campaign and today published a package about Huckabee’s policy positions and values.

Engaged public may lengthen election nominations

MANCHESTER, N.H. (BP)—Comeback victories for Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire could lead to lengthy nominating processes for both parties stretching well past Super Tuesday, Richard Land believes.

Seminary News

Akin prays SEBTS grads prepared for lives of service

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (SEBTS)—Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and its undergraduate school, Southeastern College at Wake Forest, held their graduation ceremonies Dec.14 on the Wake Forest campus.

Southern Seminary marks 200th commencement, record December class

LOUISVILLE Ky. (SBTS)—Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., held its 200th graduation commencement Dec. 7 at Alumni Memorial Chapel. The class included 204 graduates, a record for a December commencement.

Evangelism

Boxes of JOY for nursing home residents
Evangelist rallies churches, associations to team up for Christmas outreach

MACCLENNY(FBW)—After most gifts had been unwrapped and Christmas celebrations ended, residents of the Frank Wells Nursing Home in Macclenny got an extra dose of holiday cheer with an evening of song, Scripture and gift-giving Dec. 27.

International News

Baptists feed displaced Kenyans

KENYA (BP)—A shaky, spray-painted yellow "X" marked the corner of Peter Kamau's home. That's all the warning the Kenyan needed to move his family, furniture and belongings to the side of the road in hopes they could hitch a ride to safety.

Features

Sanctity of Human Life

WORLD honors Leesburg Pregnancy Care Center director

LEESBURG (FBW)—Wanda Kohn, director of the Pregnancy Care Center at First Baptist Church in Leesburg, says she is in "the people business," and she is enthusiastically pro-life on behalf of unborn babies whose futures are in danger, and on behalf of their mothers who don't know the love and forgiveness Jesus offers.

Orlando Pregnancy Center breaks record in 2007

ORLANDO (BP)—Jan. 22 will mark the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's historic and horrific Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in America. Southern Baptists won't be celebrating, though.

Exploring 12 common myths about legal abortion

In the past decade, a growing mountain of scientific facts, books and testimonies have helped unravel a three decades' assault on unborn life and the victimization of frightened, expectant mothers. However, it appears many Christians are still at a loss at how to speak from a pro-life position to people who disregard biblical principles.

The Miracle Within

Could you pass? Website is about Roe v. Wade

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—When it comes to Roe v. Wade, Americans are, at best, inconsistent, and at worst, confused.

Teen birth rate rises for first time in 14 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The birth rate among teenagers in the United States rose in 2006 for the first time since 1991 along with the number of births to unmarried women, according to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bible Study

Family Bible Study

January 27: Breakthrough in Confidence
Psalm 23

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

February 3: The Motive
Luke 15:1-2, 11-24

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

January 20: Breakthrough in Justice
Psalm 7

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

Explore the Bible

January 27: Trust and Obey
Genesis 15-17

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

February 3: A Tent, A House, A Cave
Genesis 18-19

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

January 20: The sacredness of human life
Gen. 1; Matt. 5; 22; Mark 10

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