In the Witness this week

Vietnamese church leaders travel to Jacksonville, Graceville in first trip outside Communist country Published March 26, 2009: JACKSONVILLE(FBW)—After more than 30 years under Communist rule in Vietnam, Baptist Churches in Vietnam (BCV) gained official recognition from their national government only five months ago.

Photo courtesy Jon M. Fletcher

TEAMWORK Men from area churches join to make repairs on home of evangelist James Croft.

Churches come together to redo evangelist’s home Published March 26, 2009

OLUSTEE (FBW)—Coming together to help a brother in need, folks from several local churches joined forces to make repairs and improvements on the home of Olustee-resident and Southern Baptist evangelist James Croft.

Bunkley urges panel to keep exemption for Bibles Religious items on repeal list offered to Senate panel Published March 26, 2009

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)

At a time when many citizens are turning to churches and religious organizations to meet needs created by the economic recession, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley urged legislators to retain the sales tax exemption on religious items.

Opinion

Editorial

A sucker’s bet on the Seminole compact JAMES A. SMITH SR. Executive Editor

Point of View

'Imagine if...' JOHN CROSS Special to Florida Baptist Witness: Editor’s note: This column is the first in an occasional series by the president of the Florida Baptist State Convention.
Can you drive a straight nail? JOHN SULLIVAN Executive Director-Treasurer, Florida Baptist Convention: My inabilities as a carpenter are exceeded only by my inabilities as a mechanic. I can manage to use a hammer on special and extremely necessary occasions. My heyday as a hammer wielder came in the third year of my ministry.
Dave Says DAVE RAMSEY
Killing without consequences: The Last Goodnights CHARLES COLSON BreakPoint: In his new book, The Last Goodnights: Assisting My Parents with Their Suicides, lawyer and author John West publicly tells a story that most people would have kept silent. He does it so that one day others may be able to kill openly and without fear. That’s not how West puts it, of course, but I’m afraid that’s what it boils down to.
Review: Study Bible helps believers defend the faith BOB MOUNTS Special to the Witness: The Apologetics Bible, Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville, Tennessee, 2007 (List price $29.99 hb., $59.99 leather).

Florida

Florida News

Vietnamese church leaders travel to Jacksonville, Graceville in first trip outside Communist country: JACKSONVILLE(FBW)—After more than 30 years under Communist rule in Vietnam, Baptist Churches in Vietnam (BCV) gained official recognition from their national government only five months ago.
Churches come together to redo evangelist’s home: OLUSTEE (FBW)—Coming together to help a brother in need, folks from several local churches joined forces to make repairs and improvements on the home of Olustee-resident and Southern Baptist evangelist James Croft.
Judge allows ‘gay’ club in Nassau County schools: JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—After a ruling “not totally unexpected” by the Nassau County School Board, district superintendent John Ruis said March 12 he was disappointed, but not surprised a federal court issued an injunction a day earlier allowing a “gay” club to meet at Yulee High School.
Coach trusts in God in the midst of ‘worst’ season: BOCA RATON (FBW)—Among the biblical books that college basketball coaches read for inspiration, Numbers and Deuteronomy likely rank fairly low on the list. But that is precisely where Florida Atlantic University’s Mike Jarvis has been camping out lately.
Convention sponsors first live web-based training event: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptists from Miami, Polk City and Jacksonville—and cities and towns in between—learned how to conduct and judge Bible Drills while remaining in the comfort of their homes during a one-hour “webinar” presentation webcast live over the internet March 10.
Business program offered at BCF
New Works: JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—According to a report released by the Florida Baptist Convention’s Church Planting Department, Florida Baptists started nine new churches in February 2009. The following is a listing of new churches by association:
BCF students minister during ‘Project Samson’: SAMSON (FBW)—The memory of little 18-month-old Corrine Gracy Myers running down the center aisle of his tiny, rural church during an invitation awhile back brought a subdued chuckle to Brent Gay, pastor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Samson, Ala.
Jordan’s King donates land for baptism center at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan Baptism site & Baptist school represent ongoing goodwill between Baptists and royals: PENSACOLA (FBW)— It’s a place unmistakably rich in biblical and historic tradition. Some say it could be the very site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

Legislature Watch

Bunkley urges panel to keep exemption for Bibles Religious items on repeal list offered to Senate panel

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)

House panel clears abortion ultrasound bill Last year’s Senate bill was rejected in dramatic 20-20 tie

TALLHASSEE (FBW)—A bill that would require an ultrasound image be shown to a woman considering an abortion in the first trimester cleared a panel in the House of Representatives March 18, the first of three committee stops for the measure which narrowly failed in the 2008 legislative session.

Florida News Briefs

Miami pastor to lead preaching, teaching conference
VBS clinic in South Florida region
Sunday School training in Big Bend area April 4

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

Security training for volunteers who travel DVD set offers six sessions: BOISE, Idaho (BP)-A sharp increase in crimes against Americans and other Westerners traveling abroad has prompted David Dose, a personal security specialist, to produce a DVD-based curriculum on avoiding and otherwise dealing with such issues as petty theft to long-term detention in foreign countries.
Coming & Going: How churches can keep, attract young adults: RIDGECREST, N.C. (LWCR)—Why do so many young adults, ages 18-22, leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back?
Resolution affirms evangelism among Jews: PHOENIX (BP)—A leading proponent of Jewish evangelism has issued a declaration calling for Christian Zionist ministries to disclose whether they believe evangelicals should share the Gospel message with Jewish people.
Obama renews ban on federal funding of embryo destruction for now: WASHINGTON (BP)—President Obama renewed a ban on federal funding of research that harms human embryos only two days after issuing an executive order that lifted a prohibition on government grants for destructive embryonic stem cell research.
Frequently asked questions about stem cell research: WASHINGTON (BP)—President Obama's executive order March 9 will drastically expand the federal government's role in embryonic stem cell research. Following is a list of frequently asked questions, along with answers, about stem cells.
Johnny Hunt announces SBC theme Registration opens for Louisville: LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Registration for messengers and local hotels is open for the June 23-24 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
‘What if’ theme focuses 2009 Pastors Conference on Great: MOBILE, Ala. (BP)—Ed Litton believes that in a time of seismic cultural changes and economic uncertainty, Southern Baptists face both danger and opportunity. The danger, he says, is that churches will retreat into a safe place, while the opportunity is to trust God and see Him move powerfully to change people’s hearts and transform society.
10 tips for VBS at small churches: NASHVILLE, Tenn., (LWCR)—A small church on a tight budget can host a tremendous Vacation Bible School. All it takes is good planning and creativity.
Children and the games they play: SAN ANTONIO (LWCR)—It wasn’t all just seminars and lectures during LifeWay’s RecLab event. John Thompson, a representative with Sports Supply Group, made sure the adults at the conference got to see recreation ministry from a kid’s point of view.
Rec lab focuses on spiritual and physical ministry: SAN ANTONIO (LWCR)—Playtime could save your life.

400 Years of Baptists

The first Baptist university in America: The first Baptist college in America was Rhode Island College founded in 1764, now known as Brown University. The school was begun at Warren, Rhode Island, but moved to Providence in 1770. It became Brown University in 1804 and was named for Nicholas Brown, an alumnus.

International News

Venezuela anti-Semitism concerns USCIRF commission
Pakistan Christian threatened after providing space for prayer room
Christian schools in Great Britain threatened by conduct code

National News Briefs

County defunds Planned Parenthood
Pope challenges Pelosi
Pro-life Dems criticize Obama
Brits harvesting fetuses?

Features

Annie Armstrong Offering

Missionaries fill ‘spiritual void’ in Eastern Canada: WINNIPEG, Manitoba (NAMB)—Gary Smith and his 11-year-old son, Caleb, tooled down the Trans-Canada Highway in their rented Toyota on a winter’s day. They were in the middle of a 12-hour, 600-mile road trip from Quebec to Prince Edward Island when reality hit the 41-year-old missionary and he suddenly started to cry.
Kansas missionaries live ‘in a tepee’ down the road from Walmart: LAWRENCE, Kan. (NAMB)—Daniel Goombi is a full-blooded Native American, a member of the Kiowa-Apache Indian tribe, originally nomads who left Canada to settle in Oklahoma. Daniel is proud of his heritage, culture and tradition.
Bangladesh natives in New England reach Hindus & Muslims: WALTHAM, Mass. (NAMB)—”Absurd.”

Media Montage

Award-winning documentary on Terri Schiavo takes closer look: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (FBW)—A newly released documentary “The Terri Schiavo Story,” hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, features indepth interviews with participants on both sides of the issue of the 41-year-old disabled woman who died nearly four years ago in Florida.
Point of View Review: Study Bible helps believers defend the faith: The Apologetics Bible, Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville, Tennessee, 2007 (List price $29.99 hb., $59.99 leather).
Churches can get Fireproof discount: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Churches that purchase a movie license for the film “Fireproof” between now and the end of March can get a 10 percent discount thanks to a partnership between Outreach, Inc., and the North American Mission Board.

Bible Study

Bible Studies for Life

April 12: Jesus’ resurrection—Fact or fiction Luke 24:1-8, 36-40, 44-46: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
April 19: Jesus’ Followers—True witnesses or wishful thinkers Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 12-16: Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Explore the Bible

April 12: The Lord is alive Matthew 28:1-17: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.
April 19: The Lord is at work Isaiah 45:1-13: Mark Rathel is professor of theology at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.