In the Witness this week

TESTAMENT Tony Dungy is honored with Lifetime of Inspiration award at the 10th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at the University of South Florida Sun Dome Jan. 30.

Dungy, Tampa’s adopted native son, plans ministry future
Published February 12, 2009

TAMPA (FBW)—Tony Dungy knows what it’s like to be the first. He was the first boy born into a family of six, the first black head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory and the first NFL coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.

‘Accidental speaker’ sees instead God’s hand in his life
Cretul says Seminole compact should remain within the law
Published February 12, 2009

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala laughs at the suggestion of some that he is the “accidental speaker” of the Florida House, although he will take that high office only because of the unexpected departure of Speaker Ray Sansom.

‘Strong Marriages Florida’ campaign launched
Published February 12, 2009

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—The man who last year led the successful effort to amend Florida’s constitution to protect traditional marriage says it’s

Opinion

Editorial

‘Strong Marriages Florida’ deserves Baptist support
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

It’s usually great when Florida leads the nation—especially in college football.

Point of View

BF&M; commentary 13: The church
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.

Dave Says
DAVE RAMSEY

Crime and Punishment: ‘Suicide by self-affirmation’
CHARLES COLSON
BreakPoint

In the latest CD in his Great Books audio series, Dr. Ken Boa talks about Fyodor Dostoevksy’s Crime and Punishment. Written in 1866, the novel shows penetrating insights into human nature, anticipating trends in psychology and politics that would one day sweep the globe. In writing Crime and Punishment, Boa tells us, Dostoevsky was a man ahead of his time. I agree. He’s prophetic and one of my favorite authors.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor
Published February 12, 2009

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

‘Accidental speaker’ sees instead God’s hand in his life
Cretul says Seminole compact should remain within the law

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala laughs at the suggestion of some that he is the “accidental speaker” of the Florida House, although he will take that high office only because of the unexpected departure of Speaker Ray Sansom.

‘Strong Marriages Florida’ campaign launched

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—The man who last year led the successful effort to amend Florida’s constitution to protect traditional marriage says it’s

Blindness enabled clear vision of God, says retiring pastor

PANAMA CITY (FBW)—Pastor Jerry D. Moore, 78, retired late last year after a 60-year career in ministry and 31 years with Northside Baptist Church in Panama City. Of the hundreds of sermons he has preached in his long history of ministry, his personal testimony continues to be the sermon most “used by the Lord,” he said.

Florida WMU receives Second Century grant

Outdoorsman outreach draws a crowd of more than 2,300

CALLAHAN (FBC)—On a weekend when Americans were divided along football loyalties, more than 2,300 people attending the “Beast Feast” in Callahan found common ground through sportsmanship and Christ.

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief responds to Kentucky ice storms

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptists reached out with prayers and volunteers to help Kentucky recover following severe winter storms that have paralyzed much of the Midwestern United States.

New Orleans Seminary graduates have Florida ties

‘The Well’ draws Tallahassee’s college students

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-The lights dim, the music swells, and the doors burst open at Tallahassee’s Godby High School auditorium as The Well begins another unconventional service early on a Sunday night in January.

First, Daytona to host first-ever Fireproof My Marriage seminar

Daytona Beach (FBW)—First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach will host the first-ever Fireproof My Marriage seminar March 27-28. More than 3,000 are expected to participate in the event that will feature marriage author Gary Smalley; the co-writers of “Fireproof”, Alex and Stephen Kendrick; and Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga.,

Cross says Baptists need to ask hard questions
FBSC president outlines goals

NORTH PORT (FBW)—If hell is real and the Bible is true—and John Cross believes both—then it’s time for Southern Baptists to start asking hard questions about the denomination’s effectiveness, the Florida Baptist State Convention president told Florida Baptist Witness in a Jan. 29 interview at his church in North Port.

BCF sets its sights on mission aviation training

Graceville (BCF)—Baptist College of Florida students, in conjunction with learning how to preach and teach the Gospel on the international mission field, may soon learn how to fly into hard-to-reach mission points. According to a BCF news release, President Thomas A. Kinchen recently signed a lease on four acres of land adjacent to the north of Tri-County Airport which will serve as a base for training students in flight, maintenance and operation of small aircraft.

BCF students participate in church plant practicum

Graceville (BCF)—Baptist College of Florida students recently put legs to church planting theory by working with a new church in Crestview. Twelve members of Assistant Professor of Missions Rich Elligson’s mission practicum participated in activities, both mundane and exciting, associated with church planting.

FBC, Orlando honored for sponsoring Haitian students

Florida botched abortion could impact life debate

MIAMI (BP)—A shocking case of a botched late-term abortion in Florida is gaining national attention and could, pro-life leaders say, help change public attitudes about abortion and when life begins.

2008 Cooperative Program gifts drop 5.45%
Budget reductions planned

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Marking a year of economic turmoil and instability, Florida Baptist churches gave $37,451,304 through the Cooperative Program in 2008—$2.1 million or 5.45 percent less than the $39,611,758 given in 2007.

Super Bowl XLIII – Tampa

Dungy, Tampa’s adopted native son, plans ministry future

TAMPA (FBW)—Tony Dungy knows what it’s like to be the first. He was the first boy born into a family of six, the first black head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory and the first NFL coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers’ head coach, says ‘faith is who we are all the time’
Jones a former Alabama Baptist

TAMPA (BP)—Since becoming head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers two years ago, Mike Tomlin has talked often of his appreciation and respect for former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who first brought him into the NFL as an assistant coach.

Cardinals’ Courtright a Miami native
Coach baptized, grew up at Wayside Baptist

TAMPA (FBW)—Stepping of the plane and breathing in the Florida air, Arizona Cardinal’s Rick Courtright said he knew he was home.

Steelers’ faith makes ‘all the difference in the world’
Bailey, Miller talk about Baptist ties

TAMPA (BP/FBW)—There was nothing quiet about NFL Super Bowl XLIII Pittsburgh Steelers’ Troy Polamalu’s witness for Jesus Christ during the annual media day Jan. 27 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Boldin, Warner outspoken champions for Jesus during media day

TAMPA (FBW/BP)—Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin has had a bittersweet year: a Super Bowl berth and a painfully broken face, causing him to miss two games.

A Super Bowl party in ‘a hard community’

YBOR CITY (BP)—At a giant pre-Super Bowl party in an impoverished neighborhood not far from Tampa’s downtown and Raymond James Stadium, a different but no less festive atmosphere prevailed at an event organizers said has been 11 years in the making.

NFL players give credibility to sports outreach

TAMPA (FBW)—With high-profile athletes like the Arizona Cardinals’ Kurt Warner and University of Florida’s Tim Tebow elevating the Gospel among sports fans, believers have come to see the “big game” as an opportune time to spread the Good News.

Tampa association features ‘Super’ rallies
From ‘God’s bail-out plan’ to ‘The Super battle for your soul,’ Luter sparks enthusiasm

TAMPA (FBW)—Amid the influx of visitors for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Baptist Association ushered in the week with “Super Evangelism” rallies to the east, north and south of Raymond James Stadium.

Fundraiser sees game as Gospel platform
Ken Elder: ‘Don’t give up’ on non-believers

TAMPA (FBW)—While fans geared up for Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Ken Elder was already planning for Super Bowl XLIV in Miami for next year.

Tampa newspaper delivers 56,500 Bibles

TAMPA (FBW)—A 200-plus-page New Testament featuring Tony Dungy was distributed the Saturday before the Super Bowl to 56,500 subscribers of the Tampa Tribune.

Tony Dungy honored for ‘Lifetime of Inspiration’

TAMPA (BP)—The 10th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration turned into a lively, sustained tribute to recently retired Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy for his faith in Jesus Christ and his mentoring of others.

Florida News Briefs

Space Coast walk to fund Bible, film give-aways

Student small group leadership training

South Florida Sunday School helps

Church Librarian seminar set for Bay area

Florida Focus

Florida Focus

National

National News

Homeschooling numbers rise 36 percent in five years
Marked increase reported in minority families, survey shows

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A new report by the U.S. Department of Education finds that the number of homeschooled children in America has risen steadily over the past five years and stood at about 1.5 million in 2007.

Page hopeful, cautious about Obama’s faith council

WASHINGTON (BP)—Former Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page is both concerned and encouraged as he begins service on a new panel that will advise President Barack Obama on faith-based and community issues.

Relief teams aid ice-coated states

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptist Disaster Relief units are mobilizing to help residents of six states in the aftermath of a massive ice storm that claimed 27 lives. Kentucky and Arkansas caught the brunt of the ice storm, which rolled out of the central plains Jan. 28 and wreaked havoc all the way to Appalachia.

400 Years of Baptists

The First Baptist Church in America

The oldest Baptist congregation in the United States is The First Baptist Church in America at Providence, Rhode Island. First Baptist claims 1638 as its organizational date when believers met in the home of Roger Williams for prayer, worship, and fellowship.

BF&M; Commentary

Point of View
BF&M; commentary 13: The church

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.

National News Briefs

Alabama approves Bible curriculum

Features

Gambling with Florida:

‘Accidental speaker’ sees instead God’s hand in his life
Cretul says Seminole compact should remain within the law

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala laughs at the suggestion of some that he is the “accidental speaker” of the Florida House, although he will take that high office only because of the unexpected departure of Speaker Ray Sansom.

Seminoles promise legislators $288 million for state budget

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Ratcheting up its public relations effort to seek approval of an agreement with Gov. Charlie Crist invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court last year, the Seminole Indian Tribe told legislators Feb. 2 the compact could provide the state with billions of dollars in economic development and $288 million for the 2009-2010 budget.

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

February 22: Pray for others
John 17:9-19

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

March 1: Be aware
Nehemiah 1:1-11

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

March 8: Prepare
Nehemiah 2:1-8, 11-18

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

Explore the Bible

February 22: Faithful every day
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

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

March 1: A singing preacher
Isaiah 5:1-14

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

March 8: Life-transforming worship
Isaiah 6

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