• Carbon-14 dating confirms biblical link to Hezekiah’s Tunnel_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Carbon-14 dating confirms biblical link to Hezekiah's Tunnel

  JERUSALEM (RNS)–Using Carbon-14 dating techniques, Israeli and British scientists have determined that Siloam's Tunnel, a long, circuitous underground passage constructed below Jerusalem's ancient City of David probably was built about 700 B.C., when King Hezekiah ruled the land of Judea.

  This photo shows the descent into the ancient Siloam's Tunnel and Gihon Spring. Scientists have determined the authenticity of the long underground tunnel, which is mentioned in the Bible. (Israel Nature and Parks Authority/RNS Photo)

  The radiometric dating corroborates biblical texts such as 2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chronicles 32:3-4 as well as an ancient inscription, discovered in 1880, on one of the tunnel's walls. Although this inscription appears to refer to Hezekiah, it does not do so by name.

  This marks the first time a structure mentioned in the Bible has been dated radiometrically, according to researchers Amos Frumkin, Aryeh Shimron and Jeff Rosenbaum, who published their findings in the journal Nature.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• HOPE program brings new direction for teens in Round Rock complex_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  HOPE program brings new direction
  for teens in Round Rock complex

  By Miranda Bradley

  Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services

  ROUND ROCK–Two months ago, 15-year-old Marquell blended right into his surroundings. Like most kids in his Meadow Ridge apartment neighborhood, he stayed out until the wee hours of the morning hanging out with friends, which usually led to trouble.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• n tough times, Israel finds a friend in evangelicals_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  In tough times, Israel finds a friend in evangelicals

  By Michele Chabin

  Religion News Service

  JERUSALEM (RNS)–Times are hard in Jerusalem, with many stores, restaurants and hotels shut down due to the ongoing Palestinian uprising, but you wouldn't have known it from the rapturous smiles on the faces of the thousands of evangelical Christians who thronged to the holy city in October to support Israel.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Texas Baptist Forum_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  TEXAS BAPTIST FORUM
  False charges

  Keith Eitel's charge is absolutely false that the Parks administration at the Foreign Mission Board was not biblically based and continued the trend of liberalism.

  E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com

  This is a strange claim from a man who has never even discussed this with me. It also is strange that board trustees known to be very conservative who served during my years as a staff member and president include W.A. Criswell, Billy Graham, K. Owen White, W.O. Vaught, Homer Lindsay Sr., Mark Corts, Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler. None of them ever accused my predecessor, Baker James Cauthen, or me of liberalism.

  Why is Eitel now making unfounded allegations?

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Methodists have cut 259 jobs_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Methodists have cut 259 jobs

  DALLAS (RNS)–The United Methodist Church has cut 259 jobs over the past two years–a 21 percent drop–according to the United Methodist Reporter, an independent newspaper.

  The nation's second-largest Protestant denomination, facing a drop in revenues because of the lagging economy, laid off 65 people between Sept. 30, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2003. Sixty additional empty positions were kept vacant, while others were not filled after retirements.

  In addition, statistics provided by the church and compiled by the newspaper showed the church has lost 305 missionaries–14 percent of its overseas force–since 2001.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Ministerial searches go digital_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Ministerial searches go digital

  By Marv Knox

  Editor

  For more and more churches and their ministers, a match made in heaven may have been launched in cyberspace.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Headhunters stake out new territory in churches_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Headhunters stake out new territory in churches

  By Marv Knox

  Editor

  LEWISVILLE–Can a headhunter replace a search committee?

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Linguistic duty translates into new home for Congo family_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Linguistic duty translates into new home for Congo family

  By George Henson

  Staff Writer

  FORT WORTH–An African refugee family has found a new beginning in Fort Worth, thanks to what at first seemed to be a chance encounter with a group of missionaries.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Mississippi won’t cut out CBF leaders_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Mississippi won't cut out CBF leaders

  JACKSON, Miss. (ABP)–Messengers to the Mississippi Baptist Convention voted down a proposed constitutional amendment Oct. 28 that would have excluded Cooperative Baptist Fellowship members from serving in leadership positions in the convention.

  The amendment, proposed during last year's annual meeting by Ralph Henson, pastor of Arrowood Baptist Church of Meridian, Miss., would have disqualified anyone who is currently serving in an “employed, elected or appointed position with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship” from serving in any capacity with the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

  In accordance with the convention's constitution, Henson's motion was referred last year to the constitution and bylaws committee for action at this year's annual meeting. Rick Courtney, an attorney and chairman of the committee, reported the committee was unanimous in recommending the proposal be rejected. Messengers agreed by a vote of 572 to 376.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Missouri breaks ties with Jewell_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Missouri breaks ties with Jewell

  ST. LOUIS (ABP)–The Missouri Baptist Convention broke a 154-year tradition and voted Nov. 4 to stop funding William Jewell College in Liberty, citing the college's positions on homosexuality and morality.

  The convention eliminated the Baptist school from its 2004 budget. Last year, the convention gave William Jewell $900,000, about 3 percent of the college's budget.

  Roger Moran, a layman from Winfield whose guilt-by-association reports on state convention agencies and churches fueled a fundamentalist takeover of the Missouri convention, argued for cutting the college's funds.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• Churches urged to address multicultural needs of Texas_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  Churches urged to address multicultural needs of Texas

  By John Hall

  Texas Baptist Communications

  Whether the message is “Jesús te ama,” “Jésus te aime” or “Jesus loves you,” Baptists need to reach out intentionally to all people in an increasingly multicultural state of non-believers, according to Baptist General Convention of Texas staff.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge

• 

  On the Move_111003

  Posted: 11/07/03
  

  On the Move

  Jeff Addison to First Church in Quitaque as pastor from Lee Street Church in Dimmitt.

  J.C. Baker to First Church in Weinert as pastor.

  David Brumbelow to Lee College in Baytown as Baptist Student Ministry director. He also is pastor of Northside Church in Highlands.

  11/07/2003 - By John Rutledge