Gary D. Myers

JERUSALEM (BP) -- The thought of Jesus stepping out of the tomb on the first Easter morning is simply overwhelming. His atoning death was magnified by the miracle of His resurrection. While the cross remains the undisputed symbol of Christianity, the empty tomb conveys the abundant life found in Christ. Just imagine seeing the empty tomb as it was that day.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Amid debate over a decision by Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church to escrow Cooperative Program funds, Prestonwood pastor Jack Graham told a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary chapel audience Jesus must be the focus of every congregation. The church "is not about us -- my church, your church. It's all about Jesus," Graham said March 7.

PHOENIX (BP) -- Celebrating smaller membership churches in the Southern Baptist Convention is a key aspect of this year's Pastors' Conference. However, key leaders are calling for broad participation by pastors regardless of the size of their church. "The core of the SBC has always been faithful men and women living out the Great Commission in local churches without the benefits of large platforms, big budgets or headline recognition," J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., noted.

KARMEI YOSEF, ISRAEL (BP) -- Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God warned His people through Moses to avoid the idols of the Canaanites. Joshua reiterated this strict warning against the Canaanite gods after the people crossed the Jordan. But the Israelites did not heed these warnings. The idols and false gods of the Canaanites proved to be a snare to the people from the time of the Conquest until the Exile.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- The musty smell of antiquity fills the air as music professor Ed Steele positions an old leather-bound book on an odd-looking scanner. With the press of a button the scanner comes to life, a light passes over the page, and before long a scanned page appears on Steele's computer screen.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have approved the establishment of an Adrian Rogers Center for Expository Preaching. Additional initiatives also were approved during the trustees' fall meeting to enhance the training of local church pastors and other church leaders -- a Christian leadership major in the doctor of philosophy program and several enhancements to the seminary's master of divinity program.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Paul Kim visited New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with two goals: promoting Asian-American involvement in the Southern Baptist Convention and encouraging students to consider church planting. Kim is working to spread SBC awareness and build Cooperative Program support among Asian-American Baptists as the Asian-American relations consultant with the SBC's Executive Committee -- one of many Baptist leaders working with Frank S. Page, EC president, in an effort to understand and appreciate the diverse ethnic landscape in the SBC.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary student John Russell, missing since April 22, has been found in an Alabama hospital. He has been in the ICU at D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton, Ala., since April 22 following an accident. Hospital officials were unable to identify Russell until May 4. After identifying Russell, who is still in ICU, Alabama authorities notified NOBTS that he had been found. Russell's mother has been ...

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees elected a collegiate ministry professor and approved a new graduate certificate in counseling ministry during their spring meeting April 13. The board also approved a $24.3 million budget, elected two faculty members to serve in Leavell College (the seminary's undergraduate program), and approved minor curriculum ...

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- At first, it seemed like any other chapel for Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, but he was in for a surprise. Members of the faculty and staff planned a special recognition of Kelley's 20th anniversary as NOBTS president. Kelley was clearly surprised and moved by the acknowledgement.