In 1969, W.D. "Step" Martin left Alabama to become pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Shreveport. Earlier this month, Martin left that pastorate, retiring after 33 years of ministry marked by growth and baptisms. In 1969, W.D. "Step" Martin left Alabama to become pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Shreveport. Earlier this month, Martin left that pastorate, retiring after 33 years of ministry marked by growth and baptisms. "Calvary Baptist Church has never been about buildings," Martin said during a retirement service attended by hundreds at Bossier Civic Center. "Its never been about money. Its never been about budgets. Calvary Baptist Church is about souls." The numbers bear out the testimony. Since Martin arrived, the church has baptized more than 4,500 and added more than 4,600 members by letter. It has moved from a five-acre site to an 80-acre plant. And its average Sunday attendance has grown from 620 to 1,000. The church also has begun an on-site academy and established an independent budget to support worldwide missions. "(Bro. Martins) ministry has touched people from Cedar Grove to New Orleans, from New York to Ethiopia," a … [Read more...]
Baptist Faith and Message
I read with interest Jerry Rankins guest editorial. I am still not sure what would happen to any missionary who graciously declined to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. I read with interest Jerry Rankins guest editorial. I am still not sure what would happen to any missionary who graciously declined to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. I have read the new Baptist Faith and Message closely. I notice that nothing is made of the Lords Supper. It is a two-line statement. I remember, as I am sure you do, when preachers constantly argued over open and closed communions, and if it was closed, was it closed to all except members of the local church that was observing it. Under the church section, I notice that the scriptural officers are still pastors and deacons, but now only the office of pastor is limited to men. One of the hottest arguments I have ever seen was in a pastors fellowship meeting about women deacons or deaconesses. That appears to have passed by the wayside. In the letter to the church at Thyatira, Revelation 2:18, Jesus said that woman which calls herself a prophetess. There were women who prophesied in the Bible. I have heard arguments pro and con … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of March 28, 2002 Potpourri NATCHITOCHES - First church: childrens choir presents "Jailhouse Rock," April 14, 6 p.m.; Karen Townsend and Roxanne Lane, directors; Clarence Powell, interim pastor. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: work day; April 6, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.; for men/women/youth; lunch will be served; for information call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. MARINGOUIN - First church: Wild Horse Ministries featuring Paul Daily; April 7, 3 p.m.; bring a lawn chair; James Womack, pastor. HAUGHTON - Koran church: Wild Horse Ministries featuring Paul Daily: April 12, 7 p.m.; George Rogers, pastor. LIBUSE - Philadelphia church: associational Vacation Bible School clinic; April 8, 6-9 p.m.; nursery care provided; Philip Robertson, pastor. NATCHITOCHES - First church: Inner Peace in concert; April 7, 6 p.m.; Clarence Powell, interim pastor. Easter Programs HORNBECK - First church: "Calvarys Song" musical; March 31, 11 a.m.; Jerry Jeane, worship leader; Jerry Key, pastor. GRETNA - First church: "Alleluia" musical; March 31, 10:45 a.m.; Karen Bradshaw, minister of music; Kenneth Duke, Sr., pastor. … [Read more...]
Barna: Today’s youth toughest to reach
It always has been a struggle to reach teenagers for Christ, but those born since 1984 may be the toughest to reach yet, Christian researcher George Barna said. The "Mosaic Generation" is comprised of non-linear thinkers who cut and paste beliefs and values from a variety of sources, Barna said in a recent radio interview. It always has been a struggle to reach teenagers for Christ, but those born since 1984 may be the toughest to reach yet, Christian researcher George Barna said. The "Mosaic Generation" is comprised of non-linear thinkers who cut and paste beliefs and values from a variety of sources, Barna said in a recent radio interview. What is more, almost half the Mosaics do not know and do not care about moral absolutes, he added. To them, it is just a non-issue not worth arguing over, which means they are a generation comfortable with contradictions, Barna said. Barna defines the Mosaic Generation as youngsters born between 1984 and 2002, describing them as such because they are "very mosaic" in every aspect of their lives. "Theres (no attribute) that really dominates like you might have seen with prior generations. "When we … [Read more...]
Evangelism methods must change to reach young people, leader says
Current evangelism methods are not working for todays youth and must be changed to reflect the way todays students think, Mark Matlock warned recently. "We are missing huge generations of teenagers," said Matlock, creator of PlanetWisdom.com, the Internet ministry of Wisdom Works Ministries of Dallas. Current evangelism methods are not working for todays youth and must be changed to reflect the way todays students think, Mark Matlock warned recently. "We are missing huge generations of teenagers," said Matlock, creator of PlanetWisdom.com, the Internet ministry of Wisdom Works Ministries of Dallas. The probability of a person accepting Christ between the ages of 5 to 13 is 32 percent, Matlock noted at the third annual Youth Ministry Institute at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. There is a 4 percent probability within the ages of 14 to 18 and a 6 percent chance from age 19 to death. "Ninety-six out of 100 teens will be lost for eternity if we do not figure out how to reach them," Matlock lamented. Research indicates that churches simply are reaching their own when it comes to young people, leaving those outside the church unmoved by the … [Read more...]
Baptists’ second trinity would probably be “e” “s” “t”
If Baptists could be accused of being polytheistic, or having more than one God, the second trinity certainly would be "e" "s" "t." Separately, they are just letters, but together they mean something to which we should all strive, we say. If Baptists could be accused of being polytheistic, or having more than one God, the second trinity certainly would be "e" "s" "t." Separately, they are just letters, but together they mean something to which we should all strive, we say. We strive to put that trinity of letters on everything we do. One would think our supreme accomplishment is adding those three little letters to adjectives and adverbs used to describe us and ours. It just doesnt get any better than "est." "We have the larg-est church in town." "We are the fast-est growing Sunday school in our association." "We have the bigg-est budget of churches our size." "We have the small-est debt for our size church plant." Putting that est on words is the mark of superiority, we believe. After all, est certainly and automatically means the b-est. We all know there is only one est and we all want to be it. Some other denominations make … [Read more...]