In the Witness this week

Board approves science standards with 'theory' compromise JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor Published February 28, 2008: TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Rejecting advice from both sides in the evolution debate, the Florida Board of Education voted 4-3 on Feb. 19 to add "scientific theory of" before each reference to "evolution" in new science standards for public schools in the Sunshine State.

NAMB photo by Alice Rusher/FBW graphic

Jordan Minnick (left) and NAMB church planting missionary David Proffitt (right) baptize new believer Allyn Clark, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, in the chilly James River in Richmond, Va.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Life's uncertainties plague Virginia students Published February 28, 2008: HARRISONBURG, Va. (NAMB)—For North American missionaries David and Shirley Proffitt, their passion is winning the next generation to Christ by planting new churches near college campuses. And this passion has turned into a family affair.
Molino flock protected by Shepherd's hand in Feb. 17 CAROLYN NICHOLS Newswriter Published February 28, 2008: MOLINO (FBW)—After Pastor Brian Calhoun's "shorter-than-usual" sermon Feb. 17 on Jesus as our Good Shepherd, the flock at Highland Baptist Church experienced His care and protection from a tornado that damaged the church facility.

Opinion

Editorial

Evolution, academic freedom and 'Expelled' JAMES A. SMITH Executive Editor: It's too bad members of the Florida Board of Education had not seen Ben Stein's forthcoming movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" before its Feb. 19 vote to reject an academic freedom amendment to the state's science standards. If the members ever do see the movie, I have to believe at least one of the four who voted against academic freedom will wish he or she had another opportunity to fix the standards' silence concerning permitting scientific critiques of Darwinian evolution in the state's K-12 public schools.

Point of View

Baptist Faith & Message Commentary 4: God the Holy Spirit MARK RATHEL Special to Florida Baptist Witness: EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is part of an occasional series of commentaries examining and explaining the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention's confession of faith.
Florida public school students 'biggest losers' in evolution debate DONNA CALLAWAY Special to Florida Baptist Witness: On Nov. 19, a battle took place in Tallahassee. Those of us involved in that skirmish walked away with different versions of what had taken place. Even members of the news media had conflicting views of what had actually been decided. As to who won and who lost this battle—everyone lost something, but the biggest losers were the students in Florida's public schools. They lost some privileges and they lost some rights. To better understand what was at stake, it is essential that one understand the power of the Sunshine State Standards.
Model for engagement: Wilberforce and the better hour CHARLES COLSON Breakpoint: At a recent conference on Christian worldview, a college student asked the question: "Is there a model for engaging secularism?" The panel of well-known experts was stumped, clearly unfamiliar with the fact that 200 years ago a small group of politicians, bankers, writers, and lawyers addressed and overcame the crisis of secularism and immorality in England.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor Published February 28, 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

Molino flock protected by Shepherd's hand in Feb. 17: MOLINO (FBW)—After Pastor Brian Calhoun's "shorter-than-usual" sermon Feb. 17 on Jesus as our Good Shepherd, the flock at Highland Baptist Church experienced His care and protection from a tornado that damaged the church facility.
Students catch on to Starbucks conversation starters: LESSBURG (FBC)—College students from around the state put aside friendly school rivalries for a weekend of discipleship, leadership training and worship at the 2008 State Baptist Collegiate Conference Feb. 15-17, at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg.
Welch intercedes for Daytona 500 drivers: DAYTONA BEACH (BP)—Bobby Welch continued one of the Daytona 500's founding traditions by voicing the invocation prayer at the 50th running of the NASCAR race Feb. 17.

Science Standards/Evolution

Board approves science standards with 'theory' compromise: TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Rejecting advice from both sides in the evolution debate, the Florida Board of Education voted 4-3 on Feb. 19 to add "scientific theory of" before each reference to "evolution" in new science standards for public schools in the Sunshine State.
Rubio: Florida House open to legislative fix on evolution: TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—An evolution compromise approved Feb. 19 by the State Board of Education was the best that could be achieved in that body but legislative action to protect academic freedom of teachers offering criticisms of Darwinian evolution is possible, House Speaker Marco Rubio told Florida Baptist Witness in a Feb. 20 interview.

Florida News Briefs

Conference to call blind to trust God
National Bivocationals to meet

National

National News

WRAP-UP: Exec. Comm. endorses $205.7M SBC budget: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members approved a 2008-09 Cooperative Program Allocation budget of $205,716,834 for recommendation to the SBC during its June 10-11 annual meeting in Indianapolis.
Castro's announcement 'insignificant,' but pray for change, Floridians told: TALLAHASSEE (FBW/BP)—Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio called Fidel Castro's Feb. 19 announcement of his resignation as president "insignificant" and told Florida Baptist Witness he laughed when he saw news reports Castro had passed the title to his brother, Raul.

Union University Tornado

Union University breaks ground on new dorms, classes start: JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)—"Today in what seems almost beyond comprehension— two weeks and three days after a tornado destroyed large portions of this campus—we gather together to give thanks to God for a new beginning and the opportunity to build again," said Union University President David S. Dockery Feb. 22 at the groundbreaking for a new student housing complex.

Features

Annie Armstrong Offering

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Life's uncertainties plague Virginia students: HARRISONBURG, Va. (NAMB)—For North American missionaries David and Shirley Proffitt, their passion is winning the next generation to Christ by planting new churches near college campuses. And this passion has turned into a family affair.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Woman with brain tumor a 'miracle missionary' in Nevada: RENO, Nev. (NAMB)—North American Mission Board missionary Melanie Lawler is a real, talking, walking-around miracle.

Media Montage

Holman apologetics study Bible offers reasons to believe: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—What is apologetics and how does it relate to the Christian faith?
Lifelong Marriage: Of money & land mines, arguments & velvet Elvis posters: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—Marriage is a rigged institution. Only the holy survive.
New Threads study explores feasts observed by Jesus: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LCR)—Many Christians know Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur only as preprinted words on a store-bought calendar. However, these feasts and others hold hidden truths for those in search of details about Christ, His life on earth and prophecies He came to fulfill.

Bible Study

Explore the Bible

March 9: From Marker to Marker: The God of My Father Genesis 29-31: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
March 16: Growing Spiritually Through Crisis Genesis 32: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.