Appointed Michael Cromartie vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and director of the center’s Evangelicals in Civic Life program, as a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Cromartie succeeds Richard Land on the commission.
Died Stephen Olford on August 29 of a massive stroke. Olford who was 86, founded Olford Ministries International. Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, called Olford “a theological giant, a great Christian leader, and a preacher without peer.”
Resigning Paul Eshleman as director of the Jesus Film Project of Campus Crusade for Christ after 26 years. The film has been translated into more than 850 languages and seen by millions.
Appointed Geneva Vollrath former U.S. director for Hope Unlimited for Children, as CEO of Stonecroft Ministries. Vollrath succeeds Joyce Courtney, who is retiring. The organization, based in Kansas City, Missouri, has 20,000 volunteers and organizes evangelistic activities, Bible studies, and training events for 1,400 local groups in 67 countries.
Appointed Intelligent Design researcher William Dembski as the first director of the Center for Science and Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s new Center for Science and Theology. Dembski who since 1999 has been associate research professor in the conceptual foundations of science at Baylor University, begins his new position on June 1.
Kidnapped Joshua 5, and Jenny (also known as Miriam, 3) Ghaffar, by their Muslim father, Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, on September 13 during a court-supervised visit in Pakistan. In December 2000, the Lahore-based Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement provided shelter for their mother, Maria Samar John, and the children (ct, June, p. 46). In February 2003 Christian lawyers affiliated with claas successfully won her lawsuit for a legal divorce. The presiding judge has declared the abduction to be in contempt of court. He filed criminal charges of kidnapping against Ghaffar.
Resigning Joseph M. Stowell, 60, president of Moody Bible Institute since 1987, effective February 28. Stowell plans to be a teaching pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere:
More information on Michael Cromartie’s appointment to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is available from the Ethics and Public Policy Center, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and the White House.
More about Olford Ministries International is available from their website, along with a tribute to Stephen Olford.
The Jesus Film Project has more information about its ministry, but no press release about Paul Eshleman.
Stonecroft Ministries has a meet Geneva Vollrath page.
Southern Baptist Press has an article about William Dembski’s appointment at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The Seminary also has a press release.
Compass Direct has more information about the kidnapping of Joshua and Jenny Ghaffar. CT also covered Maria Samar John and other women in need of shelter in Pakistan in: The Secret Shelter | A sliver of hope for Christian women who suffer beatings, rape, and forced conversions to Islam.
