SOUTHERN IRAQ (BP)--In 120-degree heat with wind tossing about sand like "baby powder" in Iraq, John Denton, a Southern Baptist chaplain, said his journey has caused him to reflect on Abraham and Moses and their "journey in the desert -- walking by faith with God."

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--James A. "Gene" Thomas, retired deputy director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., joined countless worshipers across the nation Sunday in praying for the Columbia astronauts who lost their lives over north-central Texas the previous day.

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--In a final 4-3 vote, the Orlando City Council passed a "sexual orientation" ordinance Dec. 2 on the heels of protracted public meetings and debate over the issue.

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--Citizens in Orlando, Fla., will have a final chance Dec. 2 to air their views before city council members cast their votes on a proposal to add "sexual orientation" to the city code. Council members voted 4-3 Nov. 18 in favor of the homosexual rights proposal in the first of two votes needed for passage.

No place to hide A person involved in witchcraft or other forms of the occult may frequent speciality shops like this one, but a Christian's witness can have staying power until faith takes hold.

      JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Years ago, Halloween conjured up shrieking costumed children, pouncing up the driveway eagerly screaming for another candy treat. Few Christians worried about the magic or witchcraft found in fairy tales or in the television show "Bewitched."       Today, magic and witchcraft permeate American culture.       Bill Losasso, senior pastor of Pathways Community Church in Largo, Fla., regards the Sunshine State as "one of the three hotbeds for witchcraft along with Texas and California."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--The Orlando city commission voted Oct. 21 to pursue a proposed amendment that would add the words "sexual orientation" to a human rights ordinance already written into the city's code.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (BP)--E.S. "Andy" Anderson, author and creator of the Sunday school-oriented Growth Spiral Program, died Oct. 31 in Fort Myers, Fla. He had been in a coma since suffering a cerebral hemorrhage May 15. He was 74.

BOCA RATON, Fla. (BP)--One Florida church has a sense of "double exposure" in the wake of Sept. 11's terrorist attacks and subsequent anthrax scares.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (BP)--Tired of planning the same type of alternative Halloween youth event for Bethel Baptist Church in Moody, Ala., Tom Hudgins decided use the pagan holiday to present a gospel drama message. In 1983, the first production of "Judgement House" opened for two nights, with 500 people attending and 50 people making professions of faith.

GRACEVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Faculty and students of The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville continue in mourning after three members of a ministry team were killed Sept. 24 in an accident in the college van on Interstate 10 about 30 miles southeast of the campus.