In the Witness this week

iTell speakers urge God's people to renew their passion for Christ
DON HEPBURN & BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published March 20, 2008

ORLANDO (FBC)-"We hope to kindle again the fires of evangelism we so desperately need today," John Sullivan told a crowd of nearly 800 Sunday night at the "iTell" State Evangelism Conference March 2-4 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

Actor Ben Stein brings ‘star power’ to evolution debate
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 20, 2008

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Florida legislators got a taste of Hollywood March 12 as actor-comedian Ben Stein brought his controversial film “Expelled” to Tallahassee to help lobby in favor of legislation to allow academic freedom when evolution is taught in Florida public schools.

Jeb Bush amused by 'irony' of Florida Democrat delegate dilemma
Former governor outlines '21st century conservative' agenda
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published March 20, 2008

MIAMI (FBW)-Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush could barely contain his amusement at the Democrat Party's Florida and Michigan delegate dilemma in its tightly contested presidential race, saying it's "ironic beyond belief" that the party which accused him and other Republicans of suppressing the vote in the 2000 Florida presidential election re-count now "got themselves in a hole" of "their own doing."

NAMB photo

Jon Hodge,national mobilization missionary for the North American Mission Board, discusses plans with volunteers Jade Cater, 16, and Brianna Willoughby, 16.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Hodge takes NAMB World Changers to five states and around the world
Published March 20, 2008

BARTLETT, Tenn. (NAMB)—For nine years now, Jon Hodge has been in the neighborhood-changing business, and while he’s changing neighborhoods, he’s also working—with God’s help—to change hearts, minds and souls.

Opinion

Point of View

RESOURCE: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
WILLIAM LANE CRAIG
Baptist Press

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article on the resurrection of Jesus Christ is adapted from the new Apologetics Study Bible released by the B&H Publishing Group of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. The study Bible’s 100-plus articles and other features focus on defending the Christian faith. William Lane Craig is a research professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, Calif.

Why I will not sign the document about climate change
DAVID HANKINS
Baptist Press

Recently a number of conservative Southern Baptist leaders endorsed the document, “A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change,” which asserts: “We believe our current denominational engagement with [climate change] issues has often been too timid, failing to produce a unified moral voice. Our cautious response to these issues in the face of mounting evidence may be seen by the world as uncaring, reckless and ill-informed. We can do better.”

Baptist Faith & Message commentary 5: Man
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.

Faith shopping & church hopping: Studying the shifting sand of America’s religious landscape
DON WALTON
Time for Truth Ministries

The recently released “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey” by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life is being touted as one of the largest studies ever conducted of religion in America. The study’s findings are absolutely frightening. They reveal a spiritual dearth in our nation that is most disconcerting. It is not that there is any lack of so-called spirituality or religious curiosity in America today, but that Americans now shop for a plan of salvation the same way they do a cell phone plan.

Not my shower: Breaking biological barriers
CHARLES COLSON
Breakpoint

Mary Ann Andree was drying her hair in the Rio Sport and Health Club in Gaithersburg, Maryland, last month when the door to the women’s locker room suddenly opened. In came a man, wearing a blue ruffled skirt and make-up.

Florida

Florida News

iTell speakers urge God's people to renew their passion for Christ

ORLANDO (FBC)-"We hope to kindle again the fires of evangelism we so desperately need today," John Sullivan told a crowd of nearly 800 Sunday night at the "iTell" State Evangelism Conference March 2-4 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

Jeb Bush amused by 'irony' of Florida Democrat delegate dilemma
Former governor outlines '21st century conservative' agenda

MIAMI (FBW)-Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush could barely contain his amusement at the Democrat Party's Florida and Michigan delegate dilemma in its tightly contested presidential race, saying it's "ironic beyond belief" that the party which accused him and other Republicans of suppressing the vote in the 2000 Florida presidential election re-count now "got themselves in a hole" of "their own doing."

Florida high court hears ‘false light’ press case
Jews for Jesus case could impact churches

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—It’s not often that national news organizations stand on the same side of evangelical Christians, but such was the case March 6 when the Florida Supreme Court heard an important freedom of speech, freedom of press case.

Florida Senate speeds approval of three gambling bills

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Gambling interests won wide support for three bills March 13 in the Florida Senate, but prospects for the legislation remain in doubt after House Speaker Marco Rubio continued to express opposition to gambling expansion.

Seminars

ORLANDO (FBC)—Throughout the three-day “iTell” State Evangelism Conference, small group seminars were provided to discover fresh approaches and rediscover timeless basics to help reach spiritually lost persons for Jesus Christ. In addition to the five seminars recapped here, another 12 provided targeted insights.

Tebow: God gives women power to influence family, friends, communities

ORLANDO (FBC)—Florida’s women were called to use “miraculous motivating power” to be a positive influence for the Kingdom of God during the “Becoming a Woman of Influence” conference March 3 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

Illusionist tells youth to find supernatural power in Christ

ORLANDO (FBC)—Walking on broken glass unharmed and illuminating a light bulb with his bare hands, Christian illusionist Brock Gill captured the attention of more than 800 Florida Baptist youth attending the “Night Thing” event March 3 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

Unique ministries offer creative witnessing tools

Florida Baptist churches quick to respond after tornados
Additional training available before hurricane season

TALLAHASSEE (FBC)—Florida Baptist churches and relief volunteers learned anew how valuable disaster relief training can be after tornados ripped through North Florida March 7.

Evangelism conferences give timeless basics, fresh and new ideas

ORLANDO (FBC)—Throughout the three-day “iTell” State Evangelism Conference, small group seminars were provided to discover fresh approaches and rediscover timeless basics to help reach spiritually lost persons for Jesus Christ. In addition to the five seminars recapped here, another 12 provided targeted insights.

Science Standards/Evolution

Actor Ben Stein brings ‘star power’ to evolution debate

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Florida legislators got a taste of Hollywood March 12 as actor-comedian Ben Stein brought his controversial film “Expelled” to Tallahassee to help lobby in favor of legislation to allow academic freedom when evolution is taught in Florida public schools.

Florida Baptist Associations

Celebrating Baptist associations
Keeping a ‘Kingdom perspective’ in order to transform communities through strong Baptist associations

Baptist associations in the United States celebrated their 300th anniversary in 2007. The Florida Baptist Witness is honoring Florida’s 49 associations in a series of articles that will showcase each association and its ministries. This is the sixth installment.

Florida News Briefs

Panama City site of Spring Break event

Historical Society requests histories of local churches for Church History Award

LifeWay consultants to lead Big Bend Sunday

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

McCain visits Chick-fil-A offices

ATLANTA (BP)—Sen. John McCain visited Chick-fil-A corporate headquarters in Atlanta March 7 with Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, calling the Baptist-rooted business a “great American success story” and crediting former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with having conducted an “honorable campaign” for the GOP nomination for president.

Climate change project gets world’s media attention
About a dozen Florida pastors sign affirm document

WASHINGTON (BP/FBW)—Jonathan Merritt, a 25-year-old student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., captured widespread media attention March 10 in releasing a statement titled “A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change.”

Roe’s future could ride on ‘08 election

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Christian conservatives have a very good chance of seeing Roe v. Wade overturned if a pro-life president wins the White House this fall, two attorneys prominent in pro-family legal battles said March 10.

Women brave icy weather to ‘Go Beyond’

ROGERS, Ark. (LCR)—Subfreezing temperatures couldn’t stop God—or 1,500 women—from showing up in the land of Wal-Mart for a Bible study with Priscilla Shirer.

Mother-daughter road trip stretches 1,000 miles from Alabama to Arkansas and back

ROGERS, Ark. (LCR)—“Miss Johnie” Lynch is 80 and proud of it. Age was no deterrent for Lynch, who made a 1,000-mile roundtrip weekend road trip from Alabama to Arkansas with her two daughters.

Ministry is a Shirer family affair

ROGERS, Ark. (LCR)—She’s the face. He’s the head.

Features

Annie Armstrong Offering

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Hodge takes NAMB World Changers to five states and around the world

BARTLETT, Tenn. (NAMB)—For nine years now, Jon Hodge has been in the neighborhood-changing business, and while he’s changing neighborhoods, he’s also working—with God’s help—to change hearts, minds and souls.

Media Montage

VBS Tools Online updated

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—People around the country are turning their thoughts toward warmer weather, spring break vacations, Easter dresses and ... Vacation Bible School?

2008 VBS Associational Clinics for Outrigger Island & Cactus Canyon

Vacation Bible School still works

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—It’s a fact: Vacation Bible School is the most effective evangelism strategy in the Southern Baptist Convention. Churches that understand its effectiveness also understand that follow-up is a critical component of the VBS week.

Obituary

OBITUARY

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

April 6: Exploring New Directions
Genesis 12:1-8; 13:5-9, 14-16

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

Explore the Bible

April 6: The Trials of Faith
Genesis 37

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