Quantcast
Sponsors
Special Reports
Mixed-faith marriages on the rise

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The recent nuptials of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky were a high-profile example of a growing trend in America: mixed-faith marriages.

Clinton identifies herself as a Methodist, but her new husband is Jewish, and their wedding included a pastor and a rabbi as well as the traditional Jewish “chuppah” and the breaking of a glass underfoot.

House churches growing in popularity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In what is called a throwback to the early Christian church, more Americans are choosing house churches over traditional worship centers.

Exhibit honors Cliff Barrows

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A special two-month exhibit at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., is now open to honor longtime music and program director Cliff Barrows.

Ezell’s heart beats for church planting, adoption

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (NAMB) -- When Kevin Ezell invited Buff and Cissy McNickle on stage at the 2010 SBC Pastor's Conference in Orlando with newborn son Jedidiah, it became an emotional highlight of the two-day event.

Ezell led the conference to establish a fund for pastors who wanted to adopt, and Buff, a Florida pastor, was the first to benefit from the fund. But the couple still had $10,000 in outstanding costs associated with the adoption of Jedidiah and his twin brother, Judah.

Former Muslims pay heavy price for faith

NORTH AFRICA (BP)—Ibrahim* wasn’t ready to die. He wasn’t ready to back down either.

For months, Islamic authorities had ignored the tiny house church he started with a handful of former Muslims in a dusty, desolate village on the outskirts of town. But the 26-year-old Arab farmer’s brazen evangelism had become a problem. The church was growing, and it was now turning too many heads and winning too many souls for authorities to overlook. Today, they’d come to end it.

Medical teams meet physical & spiritual needs in North Africa

NORTH AFRICA (BP)—Laila* lies motionless in the sweltering heat of a remote medical clinic poised at the edge of the Sahara Desert.

Black flies swarm the young mother’s face, feasting on the yellow infection that oozes from her eyes. An IV impales one of her arms; the other drapes limply over her swollen belly.

UPDATED: Kevin Ezell nominated NAMB president

PENSACOLA (FBW) – Louisville pastor Kevin Ezell has been nominated president of the North American Mission Board, search chairman Ted Traylor told Florida Baptist Witness Aug. 31.

The recommendation of Ezell, senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville and immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference, will be considered Sept. 14 at a special called meeting.

Experiencing God: 20 years, 45 languages

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Join God where He is working.

That simple premise hasn't changed during the two-decade history of "Experiencing God," an interactive Bible study first published in 1990 that taught a radically God-centered way of life. Initially written by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, the material was revised and expanded in 2007 by Richard Blackaby, Henry Blackaby's son.

McCain, Levin clash over ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

WASHINGTON (BP)—A spontaneous Senate floor debate over the military’s policy on homosexual service became heated Aug. 5, with Republican Sen. John McCain calling its proposed repeal part of a Democratic “social agenda” and Democratic Sen. Carl Levin defending the repeal by saying it will honor military protocol.

Kevin Ezell nominated NAMB president

PENSACOLA (FBW) – Louisville pastor Kevin Ezell has been nominated president of the North American Mission Board, search chairman Ted Traylor told Florida Baptist Witness today.

Commentary/Opinion/Staff Blog
BreakPoint
OK, so what's going on here? You may remember early in the summer, I, and other observers, squawked that the Obama Administration was playing fast and loose--possibly intentionally--with our most basic freedom: Freedom of Read More...
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—The Great Commission demands that we share the Gospel with family and friends, but rarely do people turn to Christ as quickly as we would like. Have you ever prayed for somebody so long that you wondered if God was Read More...
A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the Read More...
BreakPoint
I’ve spent the days following the ruling in the proposition 8 case, praying, reading, and thinking. My first reaction was, “Our worst nightmare has come true.” A federal judge declaring that the “ability to marry” is a fundamental right Read More...
Dave Says is a column featuring the financial advice of nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey, the Dave Says column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual calls on Ramsey's radio program, The Dave Read More...
Executive Director-Treasurer
What a wonderful theme for this year’s Maguire State Mission Offering, “Taking Jesus into the Neighborhood!” That is what the Maguire State Mission Offering is designed to do. Here are just some examples of the 27 ministries funded Read More...
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. Read More...
Medical teams meet physical & spiritual needs in North Africa
NORTH AFRICA (BP)—Laila* lies motionless in the sweltering heat of a remote medical clinic poised at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Black flies swarm the young mother’s face, feasting on Read More
Brain tumor teaches man patience
PENSACOLA (FBW)--Paul Trippe, a member of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, had reconciled himself to a life of excruciating pain when a prayer request in his Sunday School Read More
Myrtle Grove Baptist youth ‘Celebrate Life’
PENSACOLA (FBW)—Although the words and melodies to a popular youth choir musical “Celebrate Life” had not changed in 35 years, at Pensacola’s Myrtle Grove Baptist Church, the Read More
BCF partners with LINC-UP Missions
GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Four years ago, when BCF graduate and former trustee Richie Allen approached Thomas A. Kinchen, president of The Baptist College of Florida, about training men and women in Brazil Read More
Panhandle Baptists reinvigorate believers in land of Baptist forefathers
BONIFAY (FBC)—More than 200 Florida Baptists from 30 mostly small Panhandle churches have traveled for the past three summers to the land of where Baptist history began to Read More
South Florida mission trip ‘eye-opening’ for Plant City church
CAROL CITY (FBW)—While South Florida’s New Life Baptist Church in Carol City was seeing refurbished school and church buildings from the work of mission groups from central Florida, adults and Read More
Clerk thwarts robbery with conversation about Jesus
POMPANO BEACH (BP)—A young woman working as a clerk at a cell phone store in Pompano Beach was able to persuade a man not to proceed with an attempted robbery by talking to him about Jesus. Read More
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 Read More
Mixed-faith marriages on the rise
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—The recent nuptials of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky were a high-profile example of a growing trend in America: mixed-faith Read More
House churches growing in popularity
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—In what is called a throwback to the early Christian church, more Americans are choosing house churches over traditional worship Read More
Exhibit honors Cliff Barrows
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A special two-month exhibit at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., is now open to honor longtime music and program director Cliff Read More
Former Muslims pay heavy price for faith
NORTH AFRICA (BP)—Ibrahim* wasn’t ready to die. He wasn’t ready to back down either. For months, Islamic authorities had ignored the tiny house church he started Read More
Experiencing God: 20 years, 45 languages
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Join God where He is working. That simple premise hasn't changed during the two-decade history of "Experiencing God," an interactive Bible Read More
McCain, Levin clash over ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
WASHINGTON (BP)—A spontaneous Senate floor debate over the military’s policy on homosexual service became heated Aug. 5, with Republican Sen. John McCain calling its proposed repeal part of a Read More
Joni Eareckson Tada undergoing chemo after surgery for breast cancer
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. (BP)–Joni Eareckson Tada had a positive prognosis after breast cancer surgery in late June, according to her Read More
Epic Pakistan flooding ‘worst in memory’
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (BP)—Unprecedented flooding in an area of Pakistan where people already struggle with great tragedy and hardship has prompted a Southern Baptist disaster Read More
Mobile Dental Unit offers spiritual ‘lifeline’ to Florida’s poor and needy
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Coming to a neighborhood near you may be a 40-foot custom-built Blue Bird bus equipped with two dental operatories, a dental x-ray unit and sterilizing Read More
Offering takes Jesus into Volusia County’s Hispanic neighborhoods
DELTONA (FBC)—Jorge Amaro retired in Deltona to be near his children, to do a little woodworking and to do a lot of gardening. But God had other plans and cultivated within Read More
Jesus walks along the shore to rescue a dying church
ORMOND BEACH (FBC)—Just like the tide coming onto the beach, many churches experience ebb and flow with good times and bad. That was the situation of North Peninsula Baptist Church in Ormond Beach Read More
Season of Prayer and Maguire State Mission Offering explores ‘Taking Jesus into the Neighborhood’
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)--With nearly 77 percent of the state of Florida unaware of their need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Florida Baptists look to the month of September as a time Read More
Cooperative Program: A Sacred Effort
EDITOR’S NOTE: April 11 is Cooperative Program Sunday in the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. This article is adapted in large part from the video, “Cooperative Program: A Sacred Effort. Read More
2010 Cooperative program goal
Read More
Jim Ballard: Mountain-surviving, church planting, cowboy preacher
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (NAMB)—North American Mission Board missionary Jim Ballard—all 243 lbs. of him—lay sprawled in agonizing pain on a snow-covered dirt trail high in the Read More
Vivian McCaughan: Multi-housing missionary
WENTZVILLE, Mo. (NAMB)—North American Mission Board missionary Vivian McCaughan enters Hidden Valley Estates in Wentzville, Mo., and thanks God for the changes she sees. McCaughan, who Read More
The Cooperative Program Factor: Mandate, Missions, Ministries
Following the Great Commission Mandate, the Florida Baptist Convention has set as its priorities to reach people for Jesus Christ, start new churches and strengthen existing churches. The summary of Read More
Ephesians 1:1-14: September 5—God’s plan is eternal
One New Testament scholar called the book of Ephesians “the crown of Paul’s writings.” Ephesians possesses several noteworthy characteristics. First, Ephesians, along with Colossians, Philippians, Read More
Acts 21:40 to 22:10; 1 Peter 3:15-17: September 5--Making your case
We begin a series of studies given to a reasoned defense of what we believe, a study known as apologetics. We will address such subjects as how to explain the problem of evil, questions related to Read More
2 Samuel 15:13-14, 24-26, 30-37; 19:7-8a: August 29—Face crises with courage
As we read the account of the way David reacted to the treason of his son Absalom, we are saddened. David’s mighty exploits take second place to the tragic events brought about by his adulterous Read More
2 Corinthians 10:1-3, 15-18; 12:14-21: August 29—A model ministry
The Apostle Paul frequently invited Christians to imitate him as he sought to imitate Christ (1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Thess. 1:6). Some people, however, did not want to imitate Paul. In fact, Paul experienced Read More
2 Samuel 11:2-5, 14-15, 12a, 10-14; Psalm 51;1-4: August 22—Deal with personal sin
One verification for the truth of the Bible resides in the way it records the blunders of its heroes. Abraham, the father of many nations, lied about Sarah, thrice calling her his sister (Gen. Read More
2 Corinthians 8-9: August 22—Contrarian kingdom giving
Contrarian investing practices a style of stock investment that differs from conventional wisdom by not following the crowd. In 2 Corinthians, Paul described a contrarian-giving pattern in which Read More
2 Samuel 9:1-13: August 15—Demonstrate kindness
Demonstrating kindness, at least to fellow believers, is not optional for Christians. As Galatians 4:32, admonishes us, “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Read More
2 Corinthians 5:11 to 6:1; 7:2-4: August 15—The reconciliation factor
Paul never gave up on being reconciled with the Corinthians that joined with the apostle’s opponents and critiqued him so harshly. Read More
Crossover closes busy downtown Orlando street
ORLANDO (FBW)—On most days, Pine Street in central Orlando is a busy city thoroughfare, but June 12 half a city block was closed to traffic in order to accommodate Downtown Orlando Baptist Church’s Read More
GCRTF report overwhelmingly passes after 90-minute debate
ORLANDO (SBT)—After nearly a year of formulation and discussion among Southern Baptists and the pleas of proponents to “penetrate lostness,” messengers to the Southern Read More
Bryant Wright fields questions on GCR, CP and Calvinism
ORLANDO (SBT) – Newly elected Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright wants to see Southern Baptists return to their first love, radically reprioritize their lives, funding and Read More
Hunt, Chapman present opposing views before GCR debate
ORLANDO (IB) – Johnny Hunt, two-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Morris Chapman, 19-year president of the SBC Executive Committee, may have similar titles, but they presented Read More
Wright elected SBC president on 2nd ballot
ORLANDO (FBW) – Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 15 on the second Read More
Nearly 1,000 new professions of faith as ICE sweeps Orlando
ORLANDO (FBW)- Sweeping across the Orlando metropolitan area, they knocked on doors, stopped people on the streets, and interrupted basketball games in parks, intent on sharing their faith with Read More
Whitten tells pastors to gauge success by God's measure
ORLANDO (FBW)-Florida's Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, cited King David's unrealized dream of building a temple for God to encourage pastors when they feel worthless or Read More
Frank Page elected EC president
ORLANDO (BP)--Frank Page was elected as the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee June 14 in Orlando, Fla. A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Read More
Multimedia: Photos, Audio & Video
Community - Featured Church Website of the Week
Submit your church website

Is there a church website you would like the Witness to feature? You're invited to submit your church website or one you would like to be featured on the Witness website. Every week a new website will be profiled.

Submit your church website:

View Archive

Flemington Baptist Church
Worship at Flemington is Holy Spirit lead and heartfelt. You can feel the energy of God. Everybody is a part of worship as worshippers encounter God in powerful, life-changing ways. The words to scripture and songs are projected to increase participation. God calls us together before Him to give to Him and to receive from Him. God's Spirit is alive, fresh and relevant and so is worship at Flemington.
Church Website of the Week
Marketplace/Classifieds Ads

HARBOR OAKS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH is still accepting resumes for a PASTOR. Send to Charles E. Swingle, 544 Mill Run Dr, New Smyrna Bch., FL 32168

Miami Shores Baptist Church (www.miamishoresbaptist.org) Sunday A.M. attendance  250, is seeking a SENIOR PASTOR.  We believe God has chosen a Southern Baptist seminary-educated man to lead a congregation of diverse cultures.  Forward resumes to; Pastor Search Committee, Miami Shores Baptist Church, 370 Grand Concourse, Miami Shores, FL 33138.

Full-time staff position available at Parkview Baptist Church, Lake City, Florida. Primary responsibility will be MINISTER TO MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS with other areas of responsibility dependent upon individual giftedness. Submit questions and resumes to parkviewbc@bellsouth.net. 09/09

Shorter Avenue Baptist Church, Rome, Georgia, seeks MINISTER OF WORSHIP and EDUCATION.  For more information on job description, join us at our website shorteravenue.org.  Click on link Minister of Music and Education job description.  Send resumes and DVD's of you recently leading worship to Blake Albritton, Shorter Avenue Baptist Church, Rome, GA 30165.  Resumes will be received through September 14, 2010. 

Marshall Baptist Church is seeking a Full Time PASTOR.  Send resume to pastorsearch@marshallchurch.org or Marshall Baptist Church, 436 Marshall Church Road, NE, Thomson, GA 30824, Attn: Search Committee

First Baptist Church of Gray Gables (www.graygables.org) is accepting resumes for the SENIOR PASTOR Position: Please email resumes directly to the Search Committee at searchteam@graygables.org or mail to: Attention Pastor Search Committee, PO Box 629, Callahan, FL 32011. Application deadline is September 15, 2010. 08/26

MUSIC DIRECTOR - Elizabeth Baptist Church of Monticello, FL is seeking a part-time Music Director for a growing, conservative church in a rural community. Please email resume to ebcmonticello@centurylink.net. For more information call Billy Schofill at 850-545-1698 or Dr. Dean Spivey at 850-688-3377.

The South Carolina Baptist Convention is currently accepting résumés for the position of ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR for the Evangelization and Missions Team. Qualified applicants must be an active member of a Southern Baptist Church, have knowledge of evangelistic methods as well as a successful record of evangelistic and mission involvement. In addition the candidate should possess appropriate educational, ministry, and supervisory experience. Please send résumés to the search committee, c/o Office of the Executive Director – Treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, 190 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29210

SENIOR PASTOR position: Central Florida Space Coast area. Send resumes to: Pastor Search Committee, 3900 Fay Boulevard, Port St. John, FL 32927 or email to fbcpsj@bellsouth.net. Website: www.firstbaptistpsj.com.  

Browse More Ads

DO YOU NEED A CHURCH PIANIST? We have piano CDs for churches to sing by! Gospel, Hymns, Easter, Choruses, Praise, etc. Call Worship Service Resources 1-877-977-6800. FREE DEMO! Special Church Pricing! www.pianocds.org.

Emmanuel Baptist Church is seeking a SECRETARY for 30 hours per week. Please send a resume to PO Box 492225, Leesburg, FL 34749 EOE

Modular Building Construction for Worship Centers, Fellowship, Classrooms etc. Wood, steel, or concrete. Energy efficient- fast track construction. Sales, leasing, and financing programs available. Call 877-888-2022 or www.PremierMod.com.  Ask about our free design consultation

VICTORY UPHOLSTERY — Pew Re-Upholstery or add Upholstery. Light Wood Refinish to Pews. 1-800-448-1832. Visit our website at www.victoryupholstery.com.

Browse More Ads

ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS: Church property, life, home, auto, liability. Find solutions at Smith & Thomas Insurance 800-852-4872.

CHURCH INSURANCE COVERAGE for Less/State of Florida: Property with Wind, Day Care and Schools. Web Site: www.churchinsuranceflorida.com or call: 1-888-909-1260.

CHURCH INSURANCE PROGRAMS– Anywhere in Florida – property, liability, buses, vans & worker’s comp. Competitive rates – Mel Himes & Associates: 800-329-3031.

Browse More Ads

HAYESVILLE, WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. LOVELY, ALMOST NEW MOUNTAIN COTTAGE FOR RENT. April – October. Weekly/Monthly. All conveniences. 2BR/2BA. On beautiful Hiawassee River. LOW PRICE $500 weekly plus tax. Sleeps five. Children welcome. No Pets. 828-389-3302.

Browse More Ads
No Classified Ads posted for this section yet.
No Classified Ads posted for this section yet.
No Classified Ads posted for this section yet.
No Classified Ads posted for this section yet.