In the Witness this week

Day of prayer emphasis turns into year of prayer focus for Chiefland churches
Prayer walk around city draws hundreds
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
Published April 24, 2008

CHIEFLAND (FBW)—Churches in Chiefland are multiplying the May 1 National Day of Prayer by at least 366. Congregations of several denominations pledged to pray for their city and its leaders every day of 2008, and prayer leaders already anticipate the effort may extend into 2009.

'Yes on 2' launched in 10 Florida cities
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 24, 2008

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Leaders of a coalition advocating a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage announced April 17 a new name for the effort—"Yes on 2"—at 10 news conferences across Florida.

Senate ultrasound bill clears second committee 3-2
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published April 24, 2008

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee approved narrowly April 15 a bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion during the first trimester. The party-line, 3-2 vote clears the bill for consideration by the entire Senate.

Opinion

Editorial

Sen. King’s detestable lobbying against life
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

Killing legislation that would require women seeking abortions during the first trimester to have an ultrasound apparently has become a personal crusade for Sen. Jim King (R-Jacksonville). The former Senate president is seeking to recruit enough fellow Republicans to stop the pro-life bill offered by retiring Sen. Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden).

Point of View

‘Expelled’s’ long-term impact may outlast short-term explosion
WILLIAM A. DEMBSKI
Baptist Press

Ben Stein’s new movie “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” opened April 18 in theaters. It explores the widespread persecution— destruction of livelihoods, careers and reputations—of scientists who doubt Darwin’s theory of evolution and think intelligence is needed to explain life’s origin and development.

The Pope comes to America: Evangelical thoughts
R. ALBERT MOHLER JR
AlbertMohler.com

Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to America as Pope will not be his introduction to this country, but it will be the first opportunity for Americans to see this Pope up close—three years after his election as pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

When ‘easy payments’ aren’t easy
HOWARD DAYTON
Baptist Press

Today, Americans are born into a world dominated by debt, and the majority has no concept that there actually was a time when excessive home mortgages, automobile loans, school loans and credit cards did not exist.

‘Expelled’ myths: Don’t believe everything you hear
CHARLES COLSON
Breakpoint

If you have heard of the new documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” which opened April 18, chances are you have heard all kinds of distortions and myths about it. So let me set the record straight about some of the most common myths.

Florida

Florida News

Day of prayer emphasis turns into year of prayer focus for Chiefland churches
Prayer walk around city draws hundreds

CHIEFLAND (FBW)—Churches in Chiefland are multiplying the May 1 National Day of Prayer by at least 366. Congregations of several denominations pledged to pray for their city and its leaders every day of 2008, and prayer leaders already anticipate the effort may extend into 2009.

'Yes on 2' launched in 10 Florida cities

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Leaders of a coalition advocating a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage announced April 17 a new name for the effort—"Yes on 2"—at 10 news conferences across Florida.

TV star Kirk Cameron urges personal transformation
Regeneration, fruit of the Spirit focus of conference

FORT MYERS (FBW)—McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers hosted “Transformed,” a conference geared towards rekindling a fire for God through evangelism. The free event featured hosts and co-host of the radio/television program, “Way of the Master,” including actor Kirk Cameron and Australian evangelist-author Ray Comfort.

Pensacola congregation adopts global vision, across the street & around continents
Church embraces global vision with 15% CP giving

MYRTLE GROVE (FBC)—Myrtle Grove Baptist Church in Pensacola has embraced a world wide view of missions-both right at home and thousands of miles away.

Floridians play prime roles in National Day of Prayer celebrations

Floridian Tony Dungy is promoting the observance of National Day of Prayer through a video-taped testimony on the event’s website, www.ndptf.org. Dungee, head coach of the world champion Indianapolis Colts and a member of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, said his football wins or losses do not define who he is, because “for every high in life, there will always be a low.”

Science Standards/Evolution

Senate debates evolution academic freedom bill

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—The Florida Senate debated a bill to protect academic freedom of teachers and students who wish to consider criticisms of evolution April 17, focusing repeatedly on concerns the measure will allow Intelligent Design to be taught in public school classrooms.

Legislature Watch

Senate ultrasound bill clears second committee 3-2

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee approved narrowly April 15 a bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion during the first trimester. The party-line, 3-2 vote clears the bill for consideration by the entire Senate.

National

National News

Churches reaching ‘micro’ people groups
Good News delivered worldwide

DALLAS (BP)—Southern Baptist churches are catching a vision of taking the Gospel to people groups that have never heard—even when there is no missionary to help them, International Mission Board trustees were told during their April 7-9 meeting in Dallas, Texas. In the past two years, about 125 congregations have accepted the challenge of taking the Gospel to unreached people groups in West Africa.

National Right to Life endorses McCain for president

WASHINGTON (BP)—National Right to Life has endorsed presumptive Republican nominee John McCain for president, giving him a significant boost in his effort to attract social conservatives.

Raid on polygamist compound prompts Baptist church’s ministry

ELDORADO, Texas (BP)—A Baptist congregation housed about 80 women and children April 4-6 after a raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) near Eldorado, Texas.

Journalists admit they lack faith

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Just six percent of national journalists describe themselves as conservative, compared with 36 percent of the overall population, according to an annual survey released in March by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

20th annual Crossover enlisting volunteers

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)—For the 20th consecutive year, Southern Baptists’ “Crossover” will relay the Gospel throughout the host city for June’s SBC annual meeting.

Pope’s visit highlights Baptist-Catholic differences, similarities

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—As Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States this week, the Southern Baptist Convention’s 16 million members and North America’s 75 million Catholics agree on some doctrinal matters but not all.

Gospel shared in black & white to reach Philly inner city

PHILADELPHIA (BP)—Keystone Fellowship Church in suburban Philadelphia celebrated its fourth birthday by planting Epiphany Fellowship Church amid some of the City of Brotherly Love’s meanest streets.

National News Briefs

IMB appoints 92 new missionaries from all walks of life

SUNNYVALE, Texas (BP)—How urgent is the world’s need for the Gospel?

Features

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

April 27: Exploring Humility
Genesis 32:3, 6-12; 33:1-5, 9-11

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

May 4: Appreciate
Philippians 2:19-22, 25-30; 4:15-18

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

Explore the Bible

April 27: Delivered from all his troubles
Genesis 41

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

May 4: Forgetting the family hardship
Genesis 42

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