ABN Digest

'Experiencing God': New film recaps 23 years of discipleship

Arkansas Baptist News — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:34:38 +0000

NASHVILLE (BP) -- A documentary about the impact of "Experiencing God" -- a discipleship study that influenced a generation -- is the first release of LifeWay Films.

Blackaby"Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God" by Henry Blackaby and Claude King has touched and changed millions of lives and thousands of churches worldwide since its release in 1990. The workbook has sold more than 7 million copies, is available in more than 45 languages and has been used in almost every denomination.

Experiencing God has spawned dozens of other books and tools including the newly released "Experiencing God at Home" book and curriculum, "Your Church Experiencing God Together," "The Man God Uses," "Fresh Encounter" and the "Experiencing God Musical."

Tackling mental illness becomes priority for Staten Island Crossroads Church

Arkansas Baptist News — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:22:32 +0000

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (BP) – Pastor Ray Parascando had just clicked "send" on an email to his congregation, letting them know of a plan to start monitoring train platforms in Staten Island after a rise in suicides involving people jumping from those platforms. Then he heard the sirens.

On Tuesday nights, Crossroads Church in Staten Island, N.Y., hosts what they call the Freedom Ministry, offering numerous support groups on topics from grief to divorce care. "I took a picture of them because they walk in here with so much angst" pastor Ray Parascando said, "but it's like once the group starts and they hold hands, a peace comes over them."It had happened again. He ran up the block from the church to find a woman in her mid-30s had attempted suicide but survived. Her body was mangled when the emergency workers pulled her from the tracks. What Parascando remembers is the look of utter hopelessness he saw in her eyes.

A week later, Hurricane Sandy devastated Staten Island and the surrounding region. People who already were coping with problems severe enough to press them to take their lives now had lost even their homes. Parascando and Crossroads Church knew they had to act.

Golden Gate Seminary trustees: Healthy seminary stays mission-focused

Arkansas Baptist News — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:13:33 +0000

MILL VALLEY, Calif. – Trustees of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary approved the 2013-14 budget, learned of a new approach to scheduling, elected two staff members and heard updates of successful programs at the spring 2013 trustees meeting held April 15 and 16.

Louisiana College trustees exonerate president

Arkansas Baptist News — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:06:52 +0000

AguillardPINEVILLE, La. – Following an all-day meeting, Louisiana College trustees voted April 30 to retain Joe Aguillard as president of the private school affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention located in Pineville, La., according to media reports.

Aguillard and the college have been in the news frequently after it was reported that two vice presidents filed a 13-page "whistleblower" complaint accusing the president of misappropriating funds and intentionally deceiving administrators and trustees.

Aguillard was named the eighth president of Louisiana College on January 18, 2005.

New Bush presidential library at Southern Methodist University testifies to faith, family values

Arkansas Baptist News — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:41:53 +0000

DALLAS (BP) – Faith and family are foundational elements guiding a visitor through the newly dedicated George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas. Just a few feet into the exhibit area is the testimony to the 43rd U.S. president's faith in God that turned his life around in 1986.

"At age forty, I finally found the strength to [quit drinking], a strength that came from love I had felt from my earliest days, and from faith that I didn't fully discover for many years," Bush wrote. "Faith changes lives. I know because faith changed mine."

As requested by Bush, the museum is a tribute to the principles that guided the president in his public life, Bush Center senior editorial director Brendan Miniter told the Southern Baptist TEXAN newsjournal.

Baptist composer and Arkansas native Buryl Red dies at 76

Arkansas Baptist News — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:12:00 +0000

NASHVILLE (BP) – Prolific Baptist composer and hymn writer Buryl Red, a native of Little Rock, died April 1 at the age of 76.

RedRed was the founding musical director and conductor of The CenturyMen, a men's choir made up of Baptist church music directors from around the world. Since their founding in 1969, The CenturyMen have performed across the U.S. and in at least 11 other countries, according to thecenturymen.com.

Southwestern Seminary launches shortest fully online master's degree

Arkansas Baptist News — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:48:35 +0000

FORT WORTH, Texas – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will launch the shortest fully online master's degree among Southern Baptist seminaries this summer with its brand new Master of Theological Studies (MTS). Trustees approved the 36-hour degree at their spring meeting on April 3.

"This finally makes it possible for people who are in their churches and preparing for ministry to go ahead and get their degree completely without having to leave the church to which they feel called and to which they're committed," said Mark Leeds, registrar at the seminary.

Duke McCall, former seminary president, dies at 98

Arkansas Baptist News — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:46:13 +0000

McCall (left)LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Duke Kimbrough McCall, a Southern Baptist statesman and former president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., died April 2 near his home in Delray Beach, Fla., from congestive heart failure and respiratory distress. He was 98.

McCall, whose contributions to the Southern Baptist Convention cover nearly 70 years, shaped both Southern Seminary and the denomination in ways that continue to define them today. When he became the seventh president of the seminary in 1951 at the age of 36, he already owned a record of denominational leadership.

He served as president of three different Southern Baptist entities: New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1943-1946), the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (1946-1951) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1951-1982). He invested in denominational leadership as a very young man and was only 28 when elected president of the New Orleans Seminary (then Baptist Bible Institute).

Carson-Newman honors Billy Graham as 'Evangelist of the 20th Century'

Arkansas Baptist News — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:57:34 +0000

Randall and Kay O'Brien (top) and Billy Graham (bottom) (Photo by Charles Key)JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman University has named Billy Graham "Evangelist of the 20th Century."

The recognition was presented to Graham at his home in Montreat, N.C. by Carson-Newman University President J. Randall O'Brien.

"I am thankful to Dr. O'Brien and Carson-Newman University for the honor of receiving the 'Evangelist of the 20th Century Award,'" said Graham.

"It is especially meaningful to receive this from a school well known for shaping hearts and minds of next generation students for Jesus Christ. I also commend this church-related institution for recently receiving the status of 'university' - well-fitting Carson-Newman's mission 'Higher Education for a Higher Purpose.' While I do not deserve this award, I accept it in the name of the One whom I have sought to serve all my life," he said.

President O'Brien said the decision to present Graham with the prestigious honor was a unanimous decree from the University's Board of Trustees.

"We feel we are the privileged ones to be able to present Dr. Graham with this award," said O'Brien. "At Carson-Newman we believe in the power of the Gospel in transforming lives to better serve God and neighbor. I can think of no one in modern history who has helped transform more lives for the Kingdom of God than Billy Graham," said O'Brien. "This award joyfully recognizes Dr. Graham's faithful service and heart for sharing with others the saving love of Christ."

The "Evangelist of the Century" honor is the first of its kind to be presented by Carson-Newman University, said O'Brien, "In the years to come, we will continue to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with our world."

Boy Scouts could face ‘flood of litigation’

Arkansas Baptist News — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:15:59 +0000

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (BP) – Altering the Boy Scouts of America's longstanding national membership policy to allow homosexuals would undermine a Supreme Court decision in the organization's favor and expose the Scouts to a "flood of litigation," Alliance Defending Freedom has warned in a letter to Scout leadership.

In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts' policy of accepting for membership only those who adhere to the values in the Scout Oath and Law, which includes a promise to be "morally straight."

"BSA's consistent adherence to its values as embodied in the Scout Oath and Law were important factors that led to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in BSA's favor when its membership policy was challenged as a violation of a state public accommodations law," ADF said.

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