• Half of Americans believe giving time more important than donating money_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Half of Americans believe giving time
  more important than donating money

  WASHINGTON (RNS)–Half of the people in the United States believe giving one's time to charity is more important than giving money, a poll by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has indicated.

  Twenty-two percent of those surveyed said money is the more important gift to charitable causes, and 23 percent said time and money had equal importance.

  “This research suggests that there's an emotional, visceral connection to volunteering that just cannot be duplicated by writing a check,” said Brad Hewitt, Thrivent Financial's senior vice president of charitable programs and volunteering, in a statement.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Calling to missions came as a whisper: ‘India’_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Calling to missions came as a whisper: 'India'

  By Ken Camp

  Managing Editor

  WACO–When Heather Herschap became convinced last year her prayer life was too focused on her own needs, she asked God for direction.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• IMB to send out 200 more workers this year_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  IMB to send out 200 more workers this year

  By Mark Kelly

  International Mission Board

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A promising outlook for the 2003 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering convinced Southern Baptist International Mission Board trustees to send an additional 200 workers overseas this year.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• Church electioneering could cost tax exemption_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Church electioneering could cost tax exemption

  By Kevin Eckstrom

  Religion News Service

  WASHINGTON (RNS)–The Internal Revenue Service has warned churches and other houses of worship they risk losing their tax-exempt status if they engage in partisan election-year politics.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Texas Baptist Forum_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM
  Seminary colleges

  I don't understand the latest trend of our Southern Baptist seminaries–establishing an undergraduate college on their campuses. It sounds like a good idea, but it will prove to be a failure in the long run.

  Yes, the young man or woman who enters a seminary undergraduate college will be theologically correct at an affordable price. However, the young man or woman will miss the benefits of receiving an education at a liberal arts college or even a tech school.

  E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

  By going to these schools first, the young man or woman will be exposed to other people and ideas that will give them an idea of the world as well as educating them in other things useful for ministry that are not taught in seminary.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Lufkin’s First Baptist celebrates with dozen congregations it helped start_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Lufkin's First Baptist celebrates with
  dozen congregations it helped start

  By George Henson

  Staff Writer

  LUFKIN–More than 800 people from churches throughout Lufkin joined in an evening of praise the work God has done and anticipation of what they believe he will continue to do.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Greenville-based MercyMe named Dove Award artist of the year_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Greenville-based MercyMe
  named Dove Award artist of the year

  NASHVILLE (RNS)–The Texas-based Christian group MercyMe recently was named artist of the year by the Gospel Music Association.

  The band also won Dove Awards for group of the year and pop/contemporary recorded song of the year for “Word of God Speak.”

  Mercyme, a Christian music group based in Greenville, was named artist if the year by the Gospel Music Association.

  That song, composed by band leader Bart Millard of Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville and co-writer Pete Kipley, was named song of the year.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  God gave strength after Wedgwood shooting, pastor recalls_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  God gave strength after Wedgwood shooting, pastor recalls

  By John Hall

  Texas Baptist Communications

  DALLAS–Pastor Al Meredith vividly remembers the phone call that changed his life and the path of his congregation: “You've got to get down here. Someone's shooting the kids.”

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Short-term missions the ‘in thing’ for Christian students_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Texas medical students hold hands with Hondurans to pray during a short-term mission trip to Honduras.

  Short-term missions the
  'in thing' for Christian students

  By Amanda Mantone

  Religion News Service

  WASHINGTON (RNS)–Steve Holt spent his first semester away from home doing typical college freshman things–making friends, going to class, working out. He had new streets to learn and lessons to study, just like his peers.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Grocery executive, Laity Lodge president named Newport award recipient_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Grocery executive, Laity Lodge
  president named Newport award recipient

  Howard E. Butt Jr. of San Antonio was named the inaugural recipient of the John Newport Foundation National Leadership Award.

  Newport Foundation Conference: • Denison urges Christians to live authentically in postmodern world • Mystery of suffering offers no easy answers, speakers say • Speakers urge dialogue as key to countering challenge of world religions • Survey finds 'moral myopia' in advertising industry • Grocery executive, Laity Lodge president named Newport award recipient • Creeds should clarify Christian living, not build barriers, speakers stress

  Butt is best known as vice chairman of H.E.B. grocery stores and president of H.E. Butt Foundation, a private organization that funds Christian camps through its lodges in the Texas Hill Country.

  He is president of the Laity Lodge Foundation and Laity Renewal Foundation.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  Creeds should clarify Christian living, not build barriers, speakers stress_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  Creeds should clarify Christian
  living, not build barriers, speakers stress

  By John Hall

  Texas Baptist Communications

  ARLINGTON–Creeds have a clarifying role in Christian life, but they build barriers between believers when used incorrectly, Baptist leaders told a national leadership conference.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge

• 

  On the Move_51704

  Posted: 5/14/04

  On the Move

  Steve Allen to North Shore Church in Lewisville as associate pastor.

  Tracy Bartley to Acton Church in Granbury as minister of education.

  Kevin Boyd to Longbranch Church in Midlothian as minister to students.

  05/14/2004 - By John Rutledge