Baptist Press Archive

Friday, September 25, 2009

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  • Morris H. Chapman: A leadership retrospective
    by Roger S. Oldham, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, has called on Southern Baptists –- every church, every pastor, every entity head,

    File photo
    every Sunday school class or small group –- to pray this next year for "just one more soul" in a prayer initiative to support the Great Commission Resurgence. Thus, Chapman, who announced his projected 2010 retirement date at the fall Executive Committee meeting (September 21-22), will close his 18-year tenure with the Executive Committee in the same way he began -- with a call for corporate prayer and personal evangelism.

          In his 1991 address as SBC president, Chapman introduced to Southern Baptists the theme that was already

    Photo by Morris Abernathy
    a hallmark of his ministry -- the theme of prayer. He observed that "through the years Southern Baptists have been known as people of prayer." He then asked, "How shall we be known in our generation?" At the conclusion of the sermon, he reminded the messengers and guests of the intense season of prayer that preceded Jonathan Edwards' famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God." Reiterating his earlier question, "Down through the years Southern Baptists have been known as people of prayer. How shall we be known in our generation?" Chapman pleaded, "Oh God, give us America; Oh God, give us America; Oh God, give us America!"

          Later that same year, he called for 1992 to be a "Watchman National Prayer Alert," asking churches to "pray in" the New Year and through the entire year for a spiritual awakening in our country.... Read More

  • Ga. flooding activates disaster relief teams
    by Carol Pipes, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    Photo by Adam Miller
    ATLANTA (BP)--Michael Dover surveys the damage outside his home in Austell, Ga., his backyard a sea of muddy water. Looking at remnants of the water-soaked wood from his workshop piled in his driveway, Dover, like many other Atlanta-area residents, now faces the harsh reality of clean up. Read More

  • Maine 'gay marriage' vote stirs passions
    by Michael Foust, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    AUGUSTA, Maine (BP)--The issue of "gay marriage" in public schools is now front and center in Maine, thanks to a new television ad paid for by a group opposed to redefining marriage. Read More

  • Marriage issue in Wash. tight in polls
    by Staff, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    OLYMPIA, Wash. (BP)--Supporters of a Washington state same-sex domestic partnerships law are leading in a new poll, although not by a significant margin. Read More

  • Oral missions network wins award
    by Caroline Anderson, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--The International Orality Network, of which the International Mission Board is a sponsor, received The Mission Exchange's Innovation in Mission Award at a Sept. 22 conference in St. Louis.

    The Mission Exchange, composed of 100 evangelical, missions-sending organizations that support approximately 20,000 missionaries, praised the International Orality Network for its innovative approach to missions, breakthrough thinking, practical training and effective resources.

    B... Read More

  • RESOURCE: DeMint book counters socialism
    by Shawn Hendricks, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Sen. Jim DeMint, in a new book, contends that increasing government control and a socialist agenda are weakening the freedom and Christian values upon which the United States was founded.

    But, the South Carolina senator writes in "Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America's Slide into Socialism," it's not too late if more of God's people choose to get involved, speak out and stand up for what they believe is right.

    "We are in the middle of what seems like a deep river,... Read More

  • Morris Chapman anuncia su jubilación del Comité Ejecutivo
    Por Art Toalson, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    Foto por Morris Abernathy
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Morris H. Chapman ha anunciado sus planes para jubilarse el 30 de septiembre del 2010 y dejar el puesto de presidente y funcionario ejecutivo principal del Comité Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur.

          Chapman, una vez jubilado, habría sido el dirigente del Comité Ejecutivo por 18 años.

          Durante su periodo en el puesto abarcó coyunturas acerca de:

          -- convicciones teológicas, tales como la adopción del Mensaje y Fe Bautistas 2000.

          -- aumento de la efectividad denominacional, tal como la agilización entre las entidades de la CBS a mediados de la década de 1990 y un énfasis vigoroso en el Programa Cooperativo y la mayordomía.

          -- relevancia cultural, tal como la resolución de reconciliación racial de la CBS lograda en 1995 y un énfasis de varios años en el ministerio.

          Chapman, de 68 años, anunció su jubilación en una carta enviada a los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo el día de la apertura de la reunión programada del 20 al 21 de septiembre en Nashville, Tenn. Él redactó que luego de someter "la fecha de su jubilación a la oración y seria consideración" durante los últimos años, "la hora ya ha llegado."

          Su anuncio coincidió con "mi 50º aniversario en el ministerio," escribió Chapman, conectando su labor ministerial a la ocasión en que como un jovencito sirvió en la iglesia seguido de su primer pastoreado en Rogers, Texas a los 26 años.

          "Ser llamado por Dios… para servir a todos los bautistas del sur fue uno de los mayores honores de mi vida e incluso uno de los mayores retos que más me han ayudado a ser humilde," continuó Chapman en su carta, en relación con el momento en que asumió la presidencia en el CE el 1 de octubre de 1992. "Yo sabía que sólo dependiendo completamente del Espíritu del Dios para que me guiara, no podría fallar miserablemente. Escuchando y recordando la palabra del Señor que oyera Zorobabel en Zacarías 4:6 fue algo vital si yo habría de cumplir con los deberes de mi nuevo puesto de manera que realmente honrara al Señor Jesucristo. En Su Palabra, Dios dijo, 'No con ejércitos, ni con fuerza, sino con mi espíritu, ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos.'" Read More

  • 'Clamar a Jesús,' dice Hunt a los líderes
    Por Erin Roach, posted Friday, September 25, 2009 (14 years ago)

    Foto de Morris Abernathy
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Johnny Hunt, presidente de la Convención Bautista del Sur, contó sobre una reciente visita que le hizo a Billy Graham en la cual el anciano evangelista expresó sus pensamientos sobre el Resurgimiento de la Gran Comisión. Read More