He was driving home from work early one evening - and most definitely was not in a good mood. The radio was reporting on the ongoing war on terrorism and the continuing fallout of the September 11 attacks on America. He was driving home from work early one evening - and most definitely was not in a good mood. The radio was reporting on the ongoing war on terrorism and the continuing fallout of the September 11 attacks on America. However, the words were background as his mind mulled the report from the mechanic - and the high repair bill he faced. He shook his head at the timing - just a matter of days before Christmas. A light turned green, and he fell in behind a van with large, celebratory writing across the back window. Newlyweds, he figured. Wrong. "Just divorced," the writing proclaimed. "Congratulate me." Smiley faces were drawn in each corner of the window. He found himself shaking his head in disbelieving amazement. Then, his cell phone rang. It was his wife - with bad news. Her office had downsized. She was out of a job, effective … [Read more...]
Evangelism Conference
The 2002 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference has been scheduled for January 28-29 at Louisiana College in Pineville. The theme of the conference is "Touching Heaven, Changing Lives. The theme is based on the scripture passage in Habbakuk 3:2, which reads: "I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew then in our day." The 2002 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference has been scheduled for January 28-29 at Louisiana College in Pineville. The theme of the conference is "Touching Heaven, Changing Lives. The theme is based on the scripture passage in Habbakuk 3:2, which reads: "I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew then in our day." Organizers are characterizing the two-day gathering as a prayer and spiritual awakening conference. A host of speakers are scheduled, as well as a presentation of the "Experiencing God - The Musical" by a statewide mass choir during the final conference session. The conference is set to begin on Monday at 1:15 p.m., with another session set for 6:15 p.m. On Tuesday, three sessions are planned - at 8:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Lodging is available at several area motels, including: Best Western Inn & Suites. $58. 2720 West … [Read more...]
Would Christmas be full of wonder if Christ were not divine?
"Even if you do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Christmas is still a wonderful time of year," said Garrison Keillor, host/writer/producer of Prairie Home Companion on Public Broadcast Radio. The remarks made during his monologue on Lake Wobegon, his mythical hometown, grabbed my thinking driving down the interstate last Saturday night. "Even if you do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Christmas is still a wonderful time of year," said Garrison Keillor, host/writer/producer of Prairie Home Companion on Public Broadcast Radio. The remarks made during his monologue on Lake Wobegon, his mythical hometown, grabbed my thinking driving down the interstate last Saturday night. Is that true? If it is true, why is it true? Christmas is a wonderful time of year, except for those with psychological wounds or scars associated with the major components of Christmas that interfere with the experience for them. But if Christ were not divine, would there be a Christmas? Would we celebrate the birth of a person, who, if he were not divine, was certainly delusional? If he were not divine, would his disciples have been martyrs to keep His message alive? There are easier ways of starting a religion or a … [Read more...]
Seminary program offers senior adults a chance to ‘makeover’ New Orleans
When Mary Kay beauty consultant Bobbie Hardin did a makeover on a homeless woman at the Brantley Baptist Center in New Orleans, the young woman could hardly believe her eyes. She broke out crying, saying, "I have never looked so beautiful." When Mary Kay beauty consultant Bobbie Hardin did a makeover on a homeless woman at the Brantley Baptist Center in New Orleans, the young woman could hardly believe her eyes. She broke out crying, saying, "I have never looked so beautiful." Looking closer into the mirror, she exclaimed, "You cant see my scars." Excited about the womans response, Hardin took the opportunity to share about Jesus with her new client. "Make-up can hide the scars on the outside, but only Jesus can heal the scars on the inside," the beauty consultant of 29 years told the woman. It was a message Hardin had come to New Orleans to deliver. Along with 17 other senior adults from Immanuel Baptist Church in El Dorado, Ark., Hardin was participating in hands-on ministry sponsored by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminarys Senior Adult MissionLab. The MissionLab offers custom-tailored programs matching the needs and abilities … [Read more...]
Call to total faith
During their annual state celebration, Louisiana Baptist young people were challenged to focus on God - and God alone The reality of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States - and the reality of Gods call to a life of total faith were brought home to thousands of Louisiana Baptist youth last month. During their annual state celebration, Louisiana Baptist young people were challenged to focus on God - and God alone The reality of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States - and the reality of Gods call to a life of total faith were brought home to thousands of Louisiana Baptist youth last month. High school senior Freeman Field told young people attending the annual Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Celebration how he watched the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York from his school three blocks away. In turn, speaker James Darby of Prairieville reminded youth that in such an uncertain world, only one thing matters. "The Word of God - its time we get to know it, ..." he emphasized in one of his addresses at the annual conference in Alexandria. "Heaven and earth are going to pass away, and the only thing thats … [Read more...]
Newspaper board affirms 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
Louisiana Baptist Message trustees voted overwhelmingly to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message last week. Trustees voted 10-1 to affirm the statement of belief, adopted last year by the Southern Baptist Convention. Louisiana Baptist Message trustees voted overwhelmingly to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message last week. Trustees voted 10-1 to affirm the statement of belief, adopted last year by the Southern Baptist Convention. The 2000 statement has been a source of debate, with some objecting to changes that were made from the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message. Nevertheless, many state conventions have followed the Southern Baptist Conventions lead on the matter. Indeed, Louisiana Baptists affirmed the 2000 document as their convention statement of faith during last years annual meeting. Messengers affirmed the 2000 document on a vote of 1,112 (56.4 percent) to 860 (43.6 percent). The Baptist Message vote was not that close, as trustees dealt with the issue during a regularly scheduled meeting that featured routine business. Initially, Glenn Price of DeQuincy sought to amend a covenant statement adopted by Baptist … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of December 13, 2001 Anniversaries LIVONIA - First church: Don Perkins, ten years as pastor. JONESVILLE - Utility church: James Foster five years as pastor. Ordinations CHOUDRANT - New Hope church: John Allen to deacons ministry; Dwayne L. Monk, pastor. Retirements MANSFIELD - First church: William T. Crosby retiring as pastor after 23 years; effective Dec. 31. Ministers Needed EROS - Clark Springs church: pastor; send resume to 139 Clark Springs Road, Eros, LA 71238-7215; Attn: A. Foster or J. Wood. EROS - Oak Grove church: music director; part-time; call (318) 249-4282 or send resume to: Oak Grove Baptist Church, 219 Crowell Rd., Eros, LA 71238, Attn: Leslie Ingram. NEW ROADS - First church: minister of music and education; full-time position; send resume to: New Roads First Baptist Church, Attn: Search Committee, 824 West ºMain Street, New Roads, LA 70760. Available SAREPTA - Wade Allen; available for supply or pastorate; call (318) 847-4776 or email rwa4jc@cbt.net for more information. Staff Changes Pastors SHREVEPORT - Marty Wright to Pinecroft church from Ebenezer church in Jonesboro. JENA - Scotty … [Read more...]
Little change in U.S. faith, studies show
Attendance at houses of worship appears to have returned to normal levels after a short surge following September 11 events, researchers say. In the process, the church has lost a chance to impact people spiritually, a leading Christian researcher asserted. Attendance at houses of worship appears to have returned to normal levels after a short surge following September 11 events, researchers say. In the process, the church has lost a chance to impact people spiritually, a leading Christian researcher asserted. A Gallup poll reported that 47 percent of adults surveyed Sept. 21-22 said they had attended church or synagogue in the previous week. That number was the highest percentage since the 1950s. However, by Nov. 8-11, 42 percent of persons said they had attended worship in the previous week, almost equal to the 41 percent recorded in May. Meanwhile, the Barna Research Group reported that 48 percent of adults surveyed recently said they had attended a church service in the past week, compared to 42 percent polled in July and August. However, when compared to last years figures, the numbers simply seem to reflect the usual seasonal increase, … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists work to minister to Afghan refugees
Every family has a story - and for Afghan families crowding refugee centers served by Southern Baptist workers in Europe, it usually is a sad one. For instance, one ethnic Hazara woman was hit twice by Taliban bullets as she fled the Afghan capital of Kabul. She survived - barely - in her home village. She could not seek medical treatment, since no male doctors under the Taliban were allowed to see a womans body, much less touch it and any women doctors had been exiled long ago. Every family has a story - and for Afghan families crowding refugee centers served by Southern Baptist workers in Europe, it usually is a sad one. For instance, one ethnic Hazara woman was hit twice by Taliban bullets as she fled the Afghan capital of Kabul. She survived - barely - in her home village. She could not seek medical treatment, since no male doctors under the Taliban were allowed to see a womans body, much less touch it and any women doctors had been exiled long ago. The womans husband - a well-to-do businessman - was arrested two years ago. The Taliban demanded a high ransom for his freedom. The woman paid it, but her husband never returned. Instead, another group of Taliban thugs … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of December 13, 2001 World of Religion Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled $16 million last month, an increase of more than $2.2 million (16.4 percent) from the previous November. Two months into the Southern Baptist conventions new budget year, overall gifts total $28.5 million, almost $964,000 (3.2 percent) behind budget. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled almost $3.8 million last month, an increase of almost $100,000 (2.7 percent) from the previous November. Call to prayer Six Southern Baptist leaders have joined Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritts call for a day of prayer for Muslims on Dec. 16. SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman, International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin, North American Mission Board President Robert Reccord, LifeWay Christian Resources President James Draper Jr., Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land and Womans Missionary Union Executive Director-Treasurer Wanda Lee joined Merritt in signing a Nov. 30 open letter asking Southern Baptists and other Christians to "pray that God would speak clearly to Muslims and reveal himself" at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim … [Read more...]