In the Witness this week

SBC overwhelmingly approves GCR task force
Published July 2, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FBW)—Southern Baptist Convention messengers June 23 overwhelmingly approved a motion authorizing their president, Johnny Hunt, to appoint a task force to study how Southern Baptists can work “more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”

GCR task force includes five Floridians
Published July 2, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FBW/BP)—Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt appointed 18 people—including five from Florida—to the “Great Commission Resurgence Task Force” June 24 during the morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

Hunt re-elected
Bell Shoals Baptist’s Stephen Rummage elected second VP
Published July 2, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the denomination’s annual meeting June 23-24 in Louisville, Ky.

Obama resolution urges prayer, opposes policies
Published July 2, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting approved a resolution June 24 celebrating the election of the country’s first African American president and urging prayer on his behalf, while expressing opposition to his actions regarding unborn life and homosexuality.

Decorated American hero calls on believers to be ‘faithful’
Military ‘appreciate the prayers of a grateful people,’ Ollie North says
Published July 2, 2009

RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)—Retired Lt. Col. Oliver North served 22 years in the Marine Corps, receiving the Silver Star for combat service during the Vietnam War, along with the Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts for combat wounds. President Ronald Reagan described him as “an American hero.”

Opinion

Editorial

GCR, ‘Wow!’ What now?
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

“Wow!”

Point of View

A personal Great Commission resurgence
THOM RAINER
LifeWay Christian Resources

The hour is late. I have been involved in seemingly nonstop in matters of my denomination’s annual convention. My inclination was to refrain from writing further about the Southern Baptist Convention. I am not smart enough to add any further insights to the volumes already written.

BF&M Commentary 18: Last Things
MARK RATHEL
Special to Florida Baptist Witness

As I reread the Baptist Faith and Message statement regarding Last Things, I noticed the end-time issues not addressed by the Baptist Faith and Message, yet issues evangelicals commonly identify as events of the end times. The BFM does not mention the rapture, the tribulation, the Antichrist, or the millennium. Further, the BFM does not discuss the number of comings of Christ, the number of resurrections, nor the number of judgments—all areas of disagreement.

Dave Says
DAVE RAMSEY

CAIRing about the truth: Who speaks for American Muslims?
CHARLES COLSON
BreakPoint

If you watch or read a report on Islam or Muslims in the United States, you will probably come across the acronym CAIR, which stands for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. CAIR is the unofficial voice of Islam in America, mostly because government officials and the media treat it as such.

Point of View
RICHARD LAND
SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

The U.S. House of Representatives easily approved “hate” crimes protections for homosexuals and transgendered individuals April 29. The Senate is expected to take up the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act prior to leaving for their August recess.

Florida

Florida News

Have camper will travel for the Lord

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—‘Have camper will travel for the Lord’ could be the motto for the Florida Baptist Campers on Mission. Offering a friendly face at a campground or a helping hand after a devastating storm, these volunteers take to the road to share the Gospel by conducting outreach events, volunteering and befriending fellow travelers.

New Works Report

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started 14 new churches in May, 2009. The following is a listing of new churches by association:

Humbled by Hunger

WINTER HAVEN (FBC)—Danielle Petit knows what it’s like to be humbled by hunger. When she and her four children were abandoned by her husband, “We lost everything. If it was not for God, I would have been on the street,” she recalled.

Dear fellow Florida Baptists,

We are living in difficult economic times. New census data shows that 37.3 million Americans—one out of eight—lived in poverty in 2007. Hunger is a condition of poverty. Living below poverty puts tremendous strains on a household, giving families barely enough money to purchase healthy and nutritious foods as well as other essentials of life. Nutrition research shows that as income goes down, the nutritional adequacy of the household’s diet goes down as well.

Jacksonville Children’s Home needs sewer

JACKSONVILLE (FBCH)—It’s raining again and Randy Harrison administrator for the Jacksonville campus of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is locking the restroom doors in the office and chapel buildings due to the deterioration of the septic tank drain field that serves those buildings. Harrison is looking forward to the day when the Jacksonville campus can connect to the city sewer line in order to avoid these inconveniences.

New Plant City pastor focuses on making, marking, maturing disciplies

PLANT CITY (FBW)—In outlining his dreams for First Baptist Church in Plant City, new Pastor Michael S. Lewis preached about evangelism, citing the Great Commission. He told the congregation June 14 his and their focus will be making disciples by telling about Jesus, marking disciples in baptism, and maturing disciples by teaching.

Florida News Briefs

Chaplaincy volunteers pass 100 mark in South Florida

Youth Evangelism Conference August 7-8

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

Decorated American hero calls on believers to be ‘faithful’
Military ‘appreciate the prayers of a grateful people,’ Ollie North says

RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP)—Retired Lt. Col. Oliver North served 22 years in the Marine Corps, receiving the Silver Star for combat service during the Vietnam War, along with the Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts for combat wounds. President Ronald Reagan described him as “an American hero.”

Six Southern Baptist seminaries’ Spring commencements highlight God’s movement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The work of the six seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention is showcased with each spring’s commencement. Reports on all of the seminaries’ services follow:

‘Doctor shopping’ new drug epidemic
Daytona Beach deputy cites ‘Elvis factor’ in drug deaths

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A couple of Christian law enforcement officers know experientially what two recent studies said about the social cost of drug use, that the correlation between drugs and crime is strong and intervention is needed.

Obama criticizes 'old attitudes' about homosexuality, says Americans will change

WASHINGTON (BP)—President Obama became the first chief executive to host a White House ceremony celebrating “gay pride” Monday, telling several hundred homosexual guests in the East Room that America still has what he called “old attitudes” about homosexuality but that they have “an ally and a champion” in the Oval Office.

SBC Executive Committee vice president resigns abruptly

NASHVILLE (SBT) -- Clark Logan has resigned from the staff of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention where he has served as vice president for business and finance since Oct. 15, 2007. Executive Committee President Morris Chapman told the TEXAN that Logan had resigned July 1, though an initial report from a close friend of Logan's indicated he had been fired.

BF&M Commentary

Point of View
BF&M Commentary 18: Last Things

As I reread the Baptist Faith and Message statement regarding Last Things, I noticed the end-time issues not addressed by the Baptist Faith and Message, yet issues evangelicals commonly identify as events of the end times. The BFM does not mention the rapture, the tribulation, the Antichrist, or the millennium. Further, the BFM does not discuss the number of comings of Christ, the number of resurrections, nor the number of judgments—all areas of disagreement.

Features

SBC Annual Meeting

SBC overwhelmingly approves GCR task force

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FBW)—Southern Baptist Convention messengers June 23 overwhelmingly approved a motion authorizing their president, Johnny Hunt, to appoint a task force to study how Southern Baptists can work “more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.”

GCR task force includes five Floridians

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FBW/BP)—Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt appointed 18 people—including five from Florida—to the “Great Commission Resurgence Task Force” June 24 during the morning session of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

Hunt re-elected
Bell Shoals Baptist’s Stephen Rummage elected second VP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., was elected without opposition to a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the denomination’s annual meeting June 23-24 in Louisville, Ky.

Obama resolution urges prayer, opposes policies

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting approved a resolution June 24 celebrating the election of the country’s first African American president and urging prayer on his behalf, while expressing opposition to his actions regarding unborn life and homosexuality.

Editorial
GCR, ‘Wow!’ What now?

“Wow!”

Point of View
A personal Great Commission resurgence

The hour is late. I have been involved in seemingly nonstop in matters of my denomination’s annual convention. My inclination was to refrain from writing further about the Southern Baptist Convention. I am not smart enough to add any further insights to the volumes already written.

Floridians appointed, elected to SBC posts

LOUISVILLE (BP)—Two Floridians have been appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt to serve on the SBC’s 2009-10 Committee on Nominations which will nominate people to serve on the SBC's boards, commissions and committees. They will present their report to the 2010 SBC annual meeting in Orlando June 15-16.

Huckabee laments lack of morality in U.S.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—An absence of morality, not a lack of money, is responsible for many of the problems facing the United States, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told the 2009 Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference June 22 in Louisville, Ky.

GCR causes attendance surge at 2009 SBC

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Interest in the Great Commission Resurgence caused an attendance resurgence at the Southern Baptist Convention June 23-24 annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., according to registration secretary Jim Wells. This year’s unofficial messenger count was 8,790, more than 1,500 over last year’s tally in Indianapolis.

Pastors called to God’s glory, love for others, discipleship
Scroggins 2010 Pastors’ Conference vice president

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptist churches must be known as passionate for God’s glory, loving toward others and winsome in their discipleship if they are to make the impact on society that God desires, pastors were told at the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference, June 21-22 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

Ministers’ wives ponder Quiet Influence

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—An overflow crowd of more than 1,600 women pondered the ways God could use the quiet influence of their lives during the 54th annual Ministers' Wives Conference June 23 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky.

Late Shirley Lindsay honored by wives

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Shirley Lindsay, the late wife of the late Homer G. Lindsay Jr., longtime pastor at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., was honored posthumously with the 2009 Willie Turner Dawson Award during the Ministers' Wives Conference June 23 at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky.

Women gain freedom in God’s Word, speakers proclaim at wives’ conf.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Early in her husband's ministry as pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Elizabeth Luter recognized God called her to be a gatekeeper. She sought to rein in the misguided doctrine of a women's retreat “that was all about pacifying pain and did very little for providing growth and maturity.”

Florida Baptists among 3,000 volunteers at Crossover ’09

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP/FBC)—The Good News raced across Louisville like a thoroughbred at Churchill Downs June 20 when 3,000 Southern Baptist volunteers, including some from Florida Baptist churches, braved 95-degree temperatures for Crossover ’09, an evangelistic effort prior to each year’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

‘Festival Familiar para toda la Familia’
‘Family Festival for the Whole Family’ at Crossover

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—After months of preparation and a week of intensive evangelistic effort, Hispanic Baptists came together June 20 at the Iroquois Amphitheater and Park in Louisville to celebrate “Festival Familiar para toda la Familia” (Family Festival for the Whole Family).

Crossover Orlando 2010

ORLANDO (FBW)—Living up to its reputation as one of the sunbelts most frenetic locations—with lights, sounds, action and music an ongoing mainstay of a city best known for its family-friendly amusement parks—Orlando is set to come alive in a different way when Crossover 2010 explodes on the scene next June.

Florida Baptists around the SBC

IMB’s Rankin challenges Southern Baptists to pray through reconstruction puzzle

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—An evening of testimonies conveyed both miracles and the remaining challenges of a lost world. And Southern Baptists responded on their knees with prayer—and a gift of more than $100,000 to international missions June 23 at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

Hawkins: GuideStone remains resilient in economic decline

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—GuideStone Financial Resources remains resilient in the face of volatile financial markets, O.S. Hawkins told messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky., June 24.

NAMB report features Iraq chaplain

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—God is transforming lives through the ministries of North American Mission Board missionaries and chaplains, but North America is still in dire need of a Savior, NAMB president Geoff Hammond told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 24.

Slain pastor honored with first HCSB award

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Fred Winters was a man known for loving the Bible and people. It was reflected in his passion for preaching the Gospel and seeing people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

ERLC’s Land cites gains in Washington

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptists have gained “tremendous victories” in Washington in recent months, Richard Land told messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky., June 23.

Sid Smith receives awards posthumously

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Sid Smith Jr., who died in April, was awarded posthumously the distinguished alumni award from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary June 24.

Hispanic Fellowship hears ‘GPS’ initiative; Mexico hostage shares details of harrowing kidnapping

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Several hundred Hispanic pastors, missionaries and leaders gathered at the annual National Hispanic Celebration June 21 to celebrate church planting and evangelization—and chart new directions.

Seminaries report in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)-Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention were reminded of the importance of theological education through reports from the convention’s six seminaries during the June 23-24 sessions in Louisville, Ky.

Mohler: At 150, SBTS a tribute to God’s grace

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—On Oct. 1, 1859, four young professors and nine students met for the first day of class when Southern Baptist Theological Seminary opened its doors in Greenville, S.C.

Southern Baptists cease relationship with Texas church over homosexuality

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—With no discussion, Southern Baptist Convention messengers Tuesday approved a recommendation to cease the denomination's relationship with Broadway Baptist Church, a Fort Worth, Texas, congregation that has been the source of controversy over its stance on homosexuality.

WMU world hunger bread loaf bank debuts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—A bread loaf bank for missions made its debut during the Woman's Missionary Union report at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky., June 23.

Seminary luncheons draw alumni, guests

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Fellowship and campus updates highlighted the alumni luncheons hosted by Southern Baptist Convention seminaries June 24 during the SBC annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.

Top chaplain says U.S. troops 'best of this generation'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Gen. Douglas Carver, chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army, thanked Southern Baptists for the 1,300 SBC military chaplains who minister to some 3 million American troops in service around the world.

Evangelists speak on engaging the culture, defending the faith

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Evangelists from across the nation gained interactive training during breakout sessions at the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists June 19 in Louisville, Ky., preceding the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Runaway slave topic of discussion at DOM conference

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Associational leaders should live as servant leaders and find creative strategies for leading other Christians to do the same, speakers said during the June 21-22 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions.

'Bring the exiles home', Messianics urged

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—All people are suffering from exile from the Garden of Eden, and the resurrection of Christ began the return from exile, James M. Hamilton Jr. told members of the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship June 20 in Louisville, Ky.

Black denominational network renames award for Sid Smith

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Members of the Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network honored the late Sid Smith during its annual meeting June 21 in Louisville, Ky., noting Smith's “lofty goals and great ideas.”

Korean Baptists reach goal of sending out 1,000 missionaries a year early

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Members of the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America are celebrating the mobilization of 1,000 people for missions service through the International Mission Board.

'Friend of Pastors' award new at NAAF fellowship

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—The National African American Fellowship presented a new award during its annual meeting and banquet June 22 to recognize individuals who “really deliver” in facilitating relationships between the denomination and African American pastors.

WMU envisions changed lives & a changed world

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—One changed life for Christ can change the world, Kaye Miller said.

'Idol' concert among SBC family events

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—”American Idol” season six finalist Phil Stacey presented a concert to students and their families as one of the many family activities during the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky., June 23-34.

'Love loud,' speakers urge SBC messengers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Three pastors and a seminary president expounded June 23 and 24 on the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting's theme, “LoveLoud: Actions speak louder than words.”

Three blind men focus of Convention sermon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Showing some Ozarkian flair, John Marshall described how three blind men were each healed differently by Jesus in his convention sermon June 24 at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky.

'There's gold in them there pews,' Hunt says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—”Getting serious doesn't mean you adopt something,” Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt said in his presidential message June 23 at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Ky.

Repentance a 'dire need' in SBC, Hunt tells pastors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—If Southern Baptists are to be what God wants them to be, they desperately need to repent of the sins that clog their spiritual lives, Johnny Hunt told the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference June 22.

28 students turn to Christ after ONE Student Rally

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Twenty-eight students made professions of faith and many more participated in an emotional prayer time with their adult companions after hearing the testimony of evangelist Ken Freeman on June 21.

Media Montage

Legacy of Broadus celebrated, example lauded in book

David S. Dockery and Roger D. Duke (eds.), John A. Broadus:
A Living Legacy, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishing Group, 2008), 249 pages. $19.99 paperback.

LifeWay Español addresses spiritual needs of Hispanic churches

MIAMI (LWCR)—The Hispanic population in the United States, presently at 48 million, is expected to triple by 2050, and many members of that population are placing an emphasis on their spiritual lives.

LifeWay Español trata necesidades espirituales de iglesias hispanas

MIAMI (LWCR)—Se espera que la población hispana en los Estados Unidos, actualmente en 48 millones, triplique antes de 2050, y muchos miembros de esa población están poniendo un énfasis en sus vidas espirituales.

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

July 26: Key questions about the triune God
Matthew 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; Ephesians 1:3-14

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

August 2: Do you see the big picture?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-5; 5:15-22; 2 Peter 3:8-9

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

Explore the Bible

July 26: The ministry of the Word in the life of a believer
James 1:19-27

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

August 2: Applying the royal law of love
James 2:1-13

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