In the Witness this week

In celebration of Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, <i>Florida Baptist Witness</i> focuses on the stories of two men involved in what has been described by historians as one of the bloodiest battles of the Euorpean theater of World War II, the Battle of the Bulge,

In celebration of Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, Florida Baptist Witness focuses on the stories of two men involved in what has been described by historians as one of the bloodiest battles of the Euorpean theater of World War II, the Battle of the Bulge, or the Ardennes Offensive from Dec. 16, 1944–Jan. 25, 1945. The conflict, said to involve 500,000 American military personnel, including up to 100,000 of whom were either wounded, taken prisoner, or killed, is known as the turning point by Allied forces which brought about the end of the war in Europe. Our stories focus on Joseph William Plappert, of Monticello, who was captured in Central Belgium and kept as a prisoner of war for six months; and Dean “D.J.” Abernathy, Sr., a retired Florida pastor, who was seriously injured and was awarded The Purple Heart and The Bronze Star.

WWII POW recalls capture in Ardennes Forest Joseph Plappert & his Bible survived prison camp 64 years ago JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor Published November 5, 2009: Throughout the story in italics are excerpts from Joseph William Plappert’s personal account of the Battle of the Bulge, The Long Journey, which was handwritten by his wife, Lois Plappert.
Cross to be nominated for second term as FBSC president JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor Published November 5, 2009: PENSACOLA (FBW)—Florida Baptist State Convention president John Cross will be nominated for a second term, Brandon minister Bob Anderson told Florida Baptist Witness Nov. 2.
State execs offer GCR task force vision, views Published November 5, 2009: DALLAS (BP)—In what might be arguably the most significant meeting yet for the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, 22 executive directors of Southern Baptist state conventions met with them Oct. 27, to offer some competing, some complementing views and vision about the Southern Baptist Convention and what is needed for a Great Commission resurgence.

Opinion

Editorial

A hate crimes victory only the beginning for ‘gay rights’ agenda JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor: “It certainly does not end today.”

Point of View

Cooperation: Centerpiece of unity for Southern Baptists JOHN SULLIVAN Executive director-treasurer, Florida Baptist Convention: This concludes a four week series on cooperation, looking at it from conviction, doctrine and through the principle of willingness.
Fresh Ideas: Creatively thankful DIANA DAVIS Special to Florida Baptist Witness: Looking for creative ways for your church to celebrate Thanksgiving? Try one of these:
Dave Says DAVE RAMSEY
The bad news of the Gospel JERRY RANKIN Special to Florida Baptist Witness: We have always thought of the Gospel as good news. In fact, the Greek word evangelion, which is translated “Gospel,” literally means “good news.” And certainly the fact that Jesus Christ died and rose again to give us salvation and victory over sin is good news, indeed!
Everyone stop breathing: Global warming and CO2 CHARLES COLSON BreakPoint: It was kind of a cool summer, wouldn’t you say? And those folks enjoying the early snows out west this fall, well, they might actually be praying for a little global warming.

Florida

Florida News

Pastor, 96, spends lifetime ‘helping churches get on their feet again’: BRANFORD (FBW)—Oliver Everett “O.E.” Boals, pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Branford, has served Florida Baptist churches 78 years in cities and communities from Lake Placid to Jacksonville. He has preached in 13 states, in South Africa, and has “done more revival meetings than a full-time evangelist,” he said.
First Person: Honoring a youth pastor turned evangelist: Growing up experiencing ministry my whole life, sometimes I like to think I have all these ministers figured out. You know how they all wear the button-up shirts tucked into their khaki slacks that are probably pulled up a little too high? Most of them could possibly be mistaken for politicians since they always insist on speaking to everyone when they walk into a restaurant, a grocery store, or about anywhere.
Liberty Counsel fights for Santa Rosa County teachers in religious liberty case Local school board & ACLU oppose intervention by Christian Educator’s Association: ORLANDO (FBW)—The Santa Rosa County School District and the American Civil Liberties Union in December are together opposing a motion on behalf of Christian Educator’s Association International in a federal court case involving religious expression and prayer.
Jax businessman takes Experiencing God to heart Creates foundation for pediatric patients: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Three years ago Jacksonville businessman Carldon Lahey made a contribution to Wolfson Children’s Hospital after reading a story about an 18-year-old patient with bone cancer who was raising money to help the hospital. That gift was the first step in beginning Christ’s Starfish Foundation to help children in pediatric hospitals and families of non-cancer pediatric patients.
Jacksonville churches ally with St. Vincent’s hospital for medical ministry: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)–In north Florida several Baptist churches work with St. Vincent’s Hospital to provide monthly health care for the uninsured residents of their communities. Stella Mouzon, a Baptist pastor’s wife and manager of St. Vincent’s Mobile Health
Grace medical center serves poor & needy in Orlando: ORLANDO (FBW)—Healthcare reform is a prime topic, but where the vast majority of people are only talking about it, longtime First Baptist Church in Orlando members Marvin Hardy and Rick Fletcher are doing something about it.
2010 Conference offers 66 workshops: LEESBURG (FBC)—The extensive ministry-evangelism network of First Baptist Church in Leesburg will be showcased when the 2010 National Ministry Conference meets at the church March 18-20.
BCF trustees approve ‘Special Report on Operations’ in light of GCR After delay, new graduate school endorsed by full board, again: GRACEVILLE (BCF)–Trustees at The Baptist College of Florida met Oct. 8-9 and received a favorable report from a Special Study Committee about operations, affirmed previous plans to authorize a graduate school, and considered other reports and actions.
Pam Tebow offers hope to women facing challenges Talks about what she was thinking when Tim was hurt in Kentucky game: TAMPA (FBW)—In that one terrifying moment when Pam Tebow watched her son, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, lying motionless on a Kentucky football field for what seemed like an eternity, her mind focused on the same thing as during other frightening moments in her life. She was meditating on the hope of God’s Word.
Consider adopting an older child, FBCH urges: LAKELAND (FBCH)—Florida Baptist Children’s Homes in November during National Adoption Awareness Month, is focusing on the need for more families to consider adopting an older child. November 8 is recognized as National Orphan Sunday.
Non-Christians searching for more on Florida university campuses Baptist Campus Ministries reaches 21st century students: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Seventeen years ago Abraham Sarker, a Bangladesh native, and devout Muslim, was studying to become a leader of the Islamic religion. A few personal spiritual experiences convinced Sarker he needed to read the Bible, anathema to his native religion. Yet, for four years, he did not meet a Christian and had no access to a Bible.
WWII POW recalls capture in Ardennes Forest Joseph Plappert & his Bible survived prison camp 64 years ago: Throughout the story in italics are excerpts from Joseph William Plappert’s personal account of the Battle of the Bulge, The Long Journey, which was handwritten by his wife, Lois Plappert.
Retired Florida pastor/lobbyist saved from death in Ardennes by Army ‘angels’: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—D.J. (Dean) Abernathy, retired Florida pastor and Florida Baptist Convention lobbyist, was injured during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, and he says at least two angels saved him from death. The angels, an Army medic and a surgeon, stepped in to save the young infantryman whom an aid station doctor had pronounced a hopeless case.
Brazil connection reaps benefits of ‘international’ partnership: AMAZONAS, Brazil (FBC)—Plans one afternoon could have gone awry on the mission trip far from home. Frustrations could have mounted with precious time wasted. Instead, an unexpected change in plans led to unexpected opportunities to share Christ.
CP Emphasis: Profiles of passion for cooperation Wauchula cowboy church reaches agricultural community: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—For these five churches, nothing represents the heart and history of the Southern Baptist Convention as much as the Cooperative Program. The thread that ties these congregations together is their commitment that, via cooperative missions, more can be done to reach the world for Christ than what any single congregation can do alone.
Uth ‘persuaded’ Cross will appoint representative, missional GCR task force Lake City pastor still ‘prayerfully considering’ alternative motion: PENSACOLA (FBW)—Florida Baptists should follow the model of the Southern Baptist Convention and empower their president to appoint a task force to study how the Florida Baptist State Convention can be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission, David Uth told Florida Baptist Witness in a Nov. 5 e-mail interview.

FBSC Annual Meeting

Cross to be nominated for second term as FBSC president: PENSACOLA (FBW)—Florida Baptist State Convention president John Cross will be nominated for a second term, Brandon minister Bob Anderson told Florida Baptist Witness Nov. 2.
‘Imagine If ...’ recording of sermons, messages available: Jacksonville (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola will be available for purchase in CD format during the meetings.
Pastor may make alternative GCR motion Sullivan issues statement on former presidents’ meeting: PENSACOLA (FBW)—Florida Baptists may have at least two different motions to consider to create a GCR-type task force to study how the state convention can be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission when they meet Nov. 9-10 in annual meeting in Pensacola.

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

State execs offer GCR task force vision, views: DALLAS (BP)—In what might be arguably the most significant meeting yet for the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, 22 executive directors of Southern Baptist state conventions met with them Oct. 27, to offer some competing, some complementing views and vision about the Southern Baptist Convention and what is needed for a Great Commission resurgence.
U.S. officials unaware of child sex-trafficking problem: WASHINGTON (BP)—Most Americans, including far too many government officials, have no idea that children under the age of 18 are being shipped from state to state as child prostitutes, according to a report from an anti-sex trafficking organization.

400 Years of Baptists

Baptist World Alliance, 1905: The first meeting of the Baptist World Alliance was July 11-18, 1905, in Exeter Hall, London. Numerous calls had been made for a worldwide Baptist organization that would project the Lordship of Christ, the fellowship of Baptists, and an emphasis on the local church. This London meeting was a celebration of Baptist unity and diversity.

National News Briefs

Vatican invitation could mean married priests

Features

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Point of View The bad news of the Gospel: We have always thought of the Gospel as good news. In fact, the Greek word evangelion, which is translated “Gospel,” literally means “good news.” And certainly the fact that Jesus Christ died and rose again to give us salvation and victory over sin is good news, indeed!
Lottie Moon: Reaching the Berbers of North Africa: NORTH AFRICA (BP)—The truck we were traveling in through the Atlas Mountains rounded the curve of a hillside to reveal a meadow spreading below. As the sun burnished the field with its afternoon rays, an old Berber woman and girl tended a large flock of sheep. We slowed the truck and then stopped, thinking we might photograph this pastoral scene.

Media Montage

Concert tour promotes missions strategy: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In a first-of-its-kind venture, a Christian music group is recruiting people for missions while promoting Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program during its fall concert tour.
Author provocatively asks: ‘Does God believe in atheists?’: John Blanchard, Does God Believe in Atheists? (Darlington, UK: Evangelical Press, 2001), 655 pages. 29.99 hardback.
Digital Bible offers interactive experience: NASHVILLE (BP)–Newsweek magazine featured recently the invention of a digital Bible called Glo (pronounced “glow”), which includes “HD video, photographs, maps, reading plans, 360-degree virtual tours and a unique zoomable interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on PC computers.”

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

November 15: Treat everyone fairly James 2:1-13: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
November 22: Watch your language James 3: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

November 15: Live righteously Psalm 112: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
November 22: Give thanks Psalm 116: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Links of Interest

How to become a Christian

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