2008 Archives
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Former Klansman reflects on how God’s grace redeemed a life of hate
Posted: 1/18/08
Former Klansman reflects on how
God’s grace redeemed a life of hateBy Roy Hoffman
Religion News Service
SPRINGFIELD, Va. (RNS)—Softspoken Tommy Tarrants leans back in his office chair, surrounded by books on religion and philosophy, and looks down at a newspaper headline from Nov. 28, 1968. It reads: “Tarrants Found Guilty, Sentenced to 30 Years.” The 60-year old sees a mugshot of himself at age 21 next to the story.
“A self-styled guerrilla waging a holy crusade’ against a ‘Communist-Jewish conspiracy’ was convicted Wednesday night of the attempted bombing of the home of a Jewish businessman,” the article said.
Former white supremacist and KKK member Tommy Tarrants now leads the C.S. Lewis Institute outside Washington, D. C., mentoring young scholars who want to delve deeper into the Christian faith. (RNS photos/John David Mercer & Louise Krafft/The Press-Register of Mobile, Ala.) See related article:
Redeemed Klansman reunites with long-ago victim01/18/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Texas Tidbits
Posted: 1/18/08
Texas Tidbits
Ruane named Standard development director. Tom Ruane, who served 36 years with the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff, has been named director of development for the Baptist Standard. He will work alongside Leroy Fenton. Ruane served as a campus minister and Bible teacher at Tarleton State University, Howard Payne University and the University of Texas at Arlington. He worked in the student ministry division at the Baptist Building from 1979 to 2000. Since then, he has been associate coordinator of institutional ministries and director of church relations consultants. He has been interim pastor of 26 churches and the pastor of two cowboy churches, in Ennis and in Kaufman County, where he continues to serve.
Weslaco church returns funds to BGCT. First Baptist Church in Weslaco returned $26,550 in Baptist General Convention of Texas church-starting funds that were used in a questionable manner. The funds were allocated to First Baptist Church to start a congregation that would originate as a third worship service at First Baptist Church. Most of the membership of First Baptist Church reportedly never understood it was starting another congregation, and former Pastor Jonathan Becker claimed the BGCT funds as a salary supplement for leading the new church. Last fall, Becker returned the funds to First Baptist Church in Weslaco, and the church agreed to return the funds to the BGCT. The BGCT has agreed not to seek any additional funds from the congregation. The total returned matches the amount BGCT records show went to First Baptist Church in Weslaco for the church-start in question. Additional funds were used to support First Baptist Church’s work in starting two other churches that continue operation. BGCT funds appear to have been used according to the guidelines in those instances, administrators report.
01/18/2008 - By John Rutledge
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TOGETHER: Texas Baptists ‘Engage’ evangelism
Posted: 1/18/08
TOGETHER:
Texas Baptists ‘Engage’ evangelism“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1).
The Apostle Paul loved people. He yearned for them to know God as he had come to know him. It is much too easy to get preoccupied with good things and neglect the main thing, the matters that have eternal consequences.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
The Engage evangelism conference stirred my heart for those who need to know Jesus and his power to change and save their lives. There is eternal value in listening to evangelists preach the gospel and share their stories. We all need times of reminding that people are all around us whom we are not seeing, and they are hungry for a relationship with God. A Christian loves to share with people that they do matter to God, and Jesus is the proof.
We heard challenging preaching and authentic testimonies. I am grateful that in my last month as your executive director, I had the privilege of being a part of the rebirth of the evangelism conference. I call on all Texas Baptists to pray for Jon Randles, our new evangelism director, and his wife, Kelly, as they offer themselves to God and to our churches for renewing in our hearts a passion for souls.
01/18/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Attempt at dialogue with Muslims sparks criticism of NAE
Posted: 1/18/08
Attempt at dialogue with
Muslims sparks criticism of NAEBy Robert Marus
Associated Baptist Press
WASHINGTON (ABP)—The National Association of Evangelicals is under attack from some prominent Christian conservatives for its involvement in an attempt at Muslim-Christian dialogue.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, former presidential candidate Gary Bauer and other right-wing evangelical leaders are among those who criticized the move in a recent article on CitizenLink.com, part of evangelical broadcaster James Dobson’s Focus on the Family empire.
01/18/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Buckner assumes Kenya children’s home ministry
Posted: 1/04/08
Buckner assumes Kenya
children’s home ministryBy Scott Collins
Buckner International
KITALE, Kenya—Buckner International assumed responsibility for the Seed of Hope Children’s Home in Kitale, Kenya effective Jan. 1. The home, located in western Kenya, houses 69 orphan children, three house families, a school, a clinic, a church, and numerous community services.
The addition of Seed of Hope brings the number of children and families served by Buckner in Kenya to nearly 300, including foster care programs in the capital of Nairobi as well as Busia and Kitale. In addition, Buckner works closely with Kenya Baptists in the operation of the Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi. Other Buckner partnerships in Kenya include work with children in Nairobi slums.
Olumayowa Famakinwa, a Baylor University student who works in Waxahachie, cares for children in a Vacation Bible School in Busia, Kenya, as part of a mission trip sponsored by Buckner International. In addition to ongoing work in Busia and Nairobi, Buckner recently assumed responsibility for the Seed of Hope Children’s Home in Kitale, Kenya. (PHOTO/Buckner) 01/17/2008 - By John Rutledge
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Ministries continue in Kenya as violence subsides somewhat, but tension remains
Posted: 1/17/08
Ministries continue in Kenya as violence
subsides somewhat, but tension remainsBy Ken Camp
Managing Editor
Classes began as scheduled at Wayland Baptist University’s Limuru campus, in spite of a wave of violence that swept through Kenya.
Meanwhile, Buckner International’s staff confirmed the safety of children housed at Nairobi’s Baptist Children’s Center and in foster homes, and several Baptist groups provided emergency care for displaced people as Kenya continued to recover from widespread rioting and political turmoil.
A man wipes his face in front of a church where about 50 people were burned alive in Eldoret, Kenya. President Mwai Kibaki’s government accused political rival Raila Odinga of responsibility for an explosion of tribal violence triggered by a disputed presidential election. (Photo/Reuters) 01/17/2008 - By John Rutledge
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GLIMPSES OF THE WORLD Lottie Moon Offering_122203
Posted: 12/19/03
GLIMPSES OF THE WORLD:
Lottie Moon OfferingBy Emily Crutcher & Manda Roten
SBC International Mission Board
As Southern Baptists engage the challenge of this year's Lottie Moon Offering for international missions, workers with the International Mission Board report numerous signs of God's work around the world.
01/16/2008 - By John Rutledge
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