Tuesday, September 02, 2008

• Minimal Gustav damage at New Orleans Seminary

  by Gary D. Myers & Michael McCormack, posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (16 years ago)

  NEW ORLEANS (BP)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary suffered only minimal damage as Hurricane Gustav pushed through about 70 miles southwest of the city Sept. 1.

        Late Monday night when Hurricane Gustav finally moved away from New Orleans, members of the New Orleans seminary family received a text message with the good news. "Campus secure. Damage minimal. Reopening Monday. Return possible Thursday. Praise the Lord!" the message read.

        After the storm passed, NOBTS President Chuck Kelley received an encouraging report from the facilities and security team that stayed on campus.

        "Our campus report was very good," NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said. "We have minor roof damage on a few buildings and some trees are down. Power is already restored on the front block of campus."

        Kelley said that the earliest possible return campus would be Thursday or Friday.

        "It is important to be sure New Orleans is ready before we begin our return," Kelley said. "Also, we must avoid complicating the work of first responders who are addressing needs across Mississippi and Louisiana. Our 'all clear' will follow that of the state and the city."

        The seminary will have an online "frequently asked questions" section on the NOBTS website to provide additional information to the seminary family. Information also will be available through the seminary's main telephone number, 1-800-662-8701.

        Classes will resume and offices will reopen Monday, Sept. 8. Main campus students will continue their coursework via Blackboard (an online learning tool) as planned. Read More

• Relief teams battle lingering winds, rain

  by Mickey Noah, posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (16 years ago)

  

  Photo by Larry Brannin/Kentucky Baptist Convention

  ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--Although Hurricane Gustav has deteriorated now to only a tropical depression, Southern Baptist disaster relief teams are still battling high winds and heavy rainfall as they respond to critical needs in south Louisiana. Read More

• Native American churches start fellowship

  by Bob Nigh, posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (16 years ago)

  OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)--Native American churches virtually have been a silent segment of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Emerson Falls believes it's time they start beating their own drum. Read More

• Alaska's grandeur is church's setting

  by Karen L. Willoughby, posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (16 years ago)

  

  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (BP)--During the six weeks of "Grace Works" this summer, more than 80 Alaskans made professions of faith.

        Grace Works, a new multi-week initiative of Grandview Baptist Church, had a dual purpose ... Read More

• CP: 0.88% ahead of 2007 pace

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (16 years ago)

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program are 0.88 percent ahead of the same time frame in August 2007, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.

  As of Aug. 31, the year-to-date total of $189,458,403.50 for Cooperative Program (CP) missions is $1,654,261.26 ahead of the $187,804,142.24 received at the same point in 2007. For the month, receipts of $17... Read More

• Don't use the 'R' word

  by Andrea Higgins, posted Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (16 years ago)

  RALEIGH, N.C. (BP)--Ben Stiller used to be one of my favorite comedians. He's lost my respect with his derogatory abuse of the word "retard" in his newest film, "Tropic Thunder" ... Read More