Wednesday, August 26, 2015

• Seminary community mourns loss of John Gibson

  by Gary D. Myers, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- The first day of a new semester was marred by sadness as New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Leavell College students learned of the death of John Gibson, professor of communication.

  Gibson, 56, died Aug. 24.

  A memorial service for Gibson, known for his acts of kindness within the seminary community, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, in Leavell Chapel on the seminary campus in a joint service with First Baptist Church in New Orleans where Gibson's wife Christi has served as minister of discipleship and missions. Read More

• SBC entities back GuideStone at high court

  by Tom Strode, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Three Southern Baptist entities have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling against the convention’s health and financial benefits organization in a crucial religious freedom case.

  In a friend-of-the-court brief filed Aug. 24, GuideStone Financial Resources received support from other Southern Baptist Convention entities in its challenge to the Obama administration’s abortion/contraception mandate. The International Mission Board, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary -- as well as Southern’s president, R. Albert Mohler Jr. -- called in the brief for the high court to grant the appeal by GuideStone and other ministries. Read More

• KATRINA 2005-15: Gulf Coast church persevered

  by K. Allan Blume & Seth Brown/North Carolina Biblical Recorder, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  BP file photo

  GULFPORT, Miss. (BP) -- Shortly after 10 a.m. on a hot Sunday in August 2005, residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast heard the familiar tone of the National Weather Service’s radio warning.

  “Devastating damage expected,” the report said. Early the next morning, Aug. 29, Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane. Read More

• KATRINA 2005-15: Hurricane was 'defining moment'

  by Dianna L. Cagle/North Carolina Biblical Recorder, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Biblical Recorder file photo

  RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) -- Hurricane Katrina was a "defining moment" for North Carolina Baptist Men, the missions organization's leader remembers.

  "It was amazing that that many people would give up so much time … and there were people who made 20-30 trips who drove every time," Richard Brunson, NCBM executive director, said. "They were taking people with them. It was just amazing … even our on-site coordinators. Some of them quit jobs and went down there and worked." Read More

• Baptist leaders respond to Ashley Madison news

  by David Roach, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- With the potential affairs of millions exposed by a hack of the adultery-facilitating Ashley Madison website, Southern Baptist leaders have offered counsel to affected families, churches and individuals.

  "We are already hearing stories of families torn apart, of children terrified about what is happening to their dad, and of the tragedy of suicide," LifeWay Christian Resources President Thom Rainer wrote in an Aug. 26 blog post. "Church leaders cannot respond in their own power. God, however, can provide them all they need to respond in such a time of tragedy and hurt." Read More

• Children give to help those in need

  by Lily Jameson, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Photo by Kathy Routt

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BP) -- Through giving their pennies, nickels and dimes and more, kids at Circle Drive Baptist Church are seeking to help others through Baptist Global Response.

  “Children can make a difference right now by giving and by praying,” Circle Drive Children’s Ministry Director Kathy Routt in Colorado Springs, Colo., said. “But, they’re also future givers and … those who are going to care for people around the world.” Read More

• KATRINA 2005-15: 'We remember'

  by David Hankins, posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 (9 years ago)

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina left her mark across southeast Louisiana. Who can forget how we felt when we saw the broken levees, the flooded homes and churches, the devastation at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, the Superdome refugees and the broken lives.

  Just a month later, approximately 200 miles to the west, Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana were coming to grips with the devastation left by Hurricane Rita. Read More