For the week of April 10, 2003 Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled almost $14.2 million, an increase of $133,401 (1 percent) from the previous March. Halfway through the Southern Baptist Conventions fiscal year, gifts total $93.1 million, an increase of more than $1.3 million (1.5 percent) from the same time last year. The total also is more than $4.6 million (5.2 percent) ahead of budget at this time. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled $18.4 million, a drop of more than $2.1 million (10.5 percent) from previous March. For the year, designated gifts total some $101.7 million, a decrease of almost $3.4 million (3.2 percent) from the same time last year Missionary death A Christian missionary in Central America was shot and killed March 28 during a robbery. Todd Fields, 41, had been a missionary for 13 years with Global Outreach International of Tupelo, Miss. His parents are Bob and Edwina Fields of Mount Vernon, Ky., who are retired Southern Baptist missionaries to Israel. Fields was serving as a missionary in Honduras and was driving middle-and high-school students to a retreat when a group of robbers shot him to force the van to stop. Struck twice, Fields was able … [Read more...]
We must keep feeding the firebox of the Cooperative Program
The story goes, a salesman boarded the same train every Monday morning for years. He traveled his territory promoting his companys product. For this company, the territorial salesman was the advertising director for that area - he sold the product, he promoted the product. The salesman, after years, became friends with the engineer, fireman and conductor of the Monday morning train. The story goes, a salesman boarded the same train every Monday morning for years. He traveled his territory promoting his companys product. For this company, the territorial salesman was the advertising director for that area - he sold the product, he promoted the product. The salesman, after years, became friends with the engineer, fireman and conductor of the Monday morning train. One day, the fireman - the man who kept fuel under the boiler - asked the salesman, "Why do you keep advertising that product? You are already the top selling item of that kind of product in the nation? Why dont you just save the money you spend on advertising?" The wise salesman replied, "Why dont you, when you get up a head of steam in the boiler of the engine, just stop putting fuel in the … [Read more...]
Tell me a story
The class of fifth graders groaned as the teacher explained the assignment. "Remember the movie Pay It Forward?" he said. "Well, were going to try something like that. In the movie, the class was told to come up with a plan for changing the world. (The following is designed as a story to be read to children regarding the Cooperative Program) The class of fifth graders groaned as the teacher explained the assignment. "Remember the movie Pay It Forward?" he said. "Well, were going to try something like that. In the movie, the class was told to come up with a plan for changing the world. "Thats what were going to do," the teacher continued. "There are a lot of things that need to be done in the world. People are hungry. People are poor. Life is getting worse in many ways. "Your assignment is to come up with a plan for changing that," the teacher said. "And the rule is - it has to be possible. For instance, you cant say, Well, we should pass a law that everybody gets to eat or We should find a magic genie and make three really big wishes." Several persons laughed. "There goes my idea," one boy in the back … [Read more...]
State WMU celebrates ‘investment in the future’
Lisa Audiffred attends Louisiana College - with the help of the Louisiana Baptist Womans Missionary Union. So does Jenni Cordero, Roni Friou, Nicole Naquin and Rebecca Watts. And for that matter, so does Jeffrey Bertrand, Philip Brooks, Andrew Pitman and Samuel West. Lisa Audiffred attends Louisiana College - with the help of the Louisiana Baptist Womans Missionary Union. So does Jenni Cordero, Roni Friou, Nicole Naquin and Rebecca Watts. And for that matter, so does Jeffrey Bertrand, Philip Brooks, Andrew Pitman and Samuel West. Along with 42 others, these students all receive help from the Louisiana Baptist WMU Scholarship fund - to the tune of $600 per semester. The students recently were recognized during a Womans Missionary Union reception at Louisiana College. They received scholarship certificates and heard the pledges of state WMU leaders to pray for them throughout the year. "Because Louisianas Womans Missionary Union desires to make a difference in the world tomorrow, we have chosen wisely to invest in our future Christian leaders," said Cindy Townsend, director of Louisiana Baptist womens missions and … [Read more...]
In the midst of war, New Orleans Seminary mobilizes for prayer
In the midst of war in Iraq, prayer is increasingly evident at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Contributing to the momentum is the seminary communitys recent participation in the "Adopt our Troops in Prayer" initiative of the Presidential Prayer Team, an independent, nonprofit organization. In the midst of war in Iraq, prayer is increasingly evident at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Contributing to the momentum is the seminary communitys recent participation in the "Adopt our Troops in Prayer" initiative of the Presidential Prayer Team, an independent, nonprofit organization. "We are trying to launch an organized prayer momentum on our campus that will parallel the current threat level to our troops and their loved ones," says Endel Lee, assistant professor of preaching and pastoral ministries at the seminarys undergraduate Leavell College. "The president has asked for this prayer effort, ... and it seems like a significant way to contribute to the crisis no matter who you are or where you live," says Lee, who has been in the military reserves nearly 20 years. "I know that I would appreciate others praying for me in this manner … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of April 10, 2003 Potpourri SIMPSON - Simpson church: Aubrey Whitlock, guest speaker; Barry Pounds, musical guest; April 14, 7 p.m.; Falis Holloway, pastor. LORANGER - Living Waters camp: Equipping Men Retreat, for ages 12 and up; April 25, 6 p.m.- April 26, 4 p.m.; Norman Wakefield, guest speaker; $40 per person/includes meals and lodging; $40/$25 for father/son; April 21 registration deadline; for information or to register, call (985) 643-6017; David Willoughby, camp manager. MANY - Many High School: Sabine and North Sabine Assocational Team Impact Rally; April 9-13, 7 p.m. nightly; love offering; for information, call First church of Many at (318) 256-5655; Lee Dickson, director of missions. DERIDDER - Mount Carmel church: "His" gospel singers in concert; April 19, 7 p.m.; Fred Hartzell, pastor. LORANGER - Living Waters camp: Senior Adult Day; April 29, 9:30 a.m. registration - 12 p.m. with lunch to follow; A. L. Palmer, main speaker; Cal Jones, guest speaker; Ivy and Anne Butler, music; $6.50 per person/$3 deposit due by April 23; for reservations, call (985) 345-1831; David Willoughby, camp manager. ALEXANDRIA - Parkview … [Read more...]
‘I … pray that whatever I do, God would be the priority’
Sitting in the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier at night can be an awe-inspiring moment. On this night, Lt. Johnnie "Cooter" Caldwell whispers a prayer and settles into his seat. After a last salute, the catapult underneath him snaps the plane - engines at full throttle - speeding down the deck until it lifts into the air with incredible velocity. Sitting in the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier at night can be an awe-inspiring moment. On this night, Lt. Johnnie "Cooter" Caldwell whispers a prayer and settles into his seat. After a last salute, the catapult underneath him snaps the plane - engines at full throttle - speeding down the deck until it lifts into the air with incredible velocity. It is a moment Caldwell has experienced often. He has been deployed with the "Gunslingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Five (VFA-105) to the USS Harry S. Truman for more than four months now. While the separation from home is hard, Caldwell says he knows he is right where God needs him to be. "I wanted to be a pilot as early as 6 or 7 years old," said Caldwell, who is a member at London Bridge … [Read more...]
As war in Iraq continues, stories of the role – and the power – of prayer emerge
As expected, newspapers and news-casts are full of reports about the strategies and tallies and details of the war against Iraq. But there is another story running just under the current - the role of prayer in Americas latest military conflict. Reports from various religious news services make it clear - prayer is playing a powerful role in the midst of war. As expected, newspapers and news-casts are full of reports about the strategies and tallies and details of the war against Iraq. But there is another story running just under the current - the role of prayer in Americas latest military conflict. Reports from various religious news services make it clear - prayer is playing a powerful role in the midst of war. In one headline example, the mother of an Army captain who has garnered worldwide notoriety for a heroic rescue insists her son is alive today because of Gods grace and the power of prayer. Army Captain Chris Carter, 31, is a member at Southside Baptist Church in Savannah, Ga. On March 31, he led a daring rescue when an elderly Muslim woman got caught on a bridge in the middle of American and Iraqi gunfire. Using his vehicle … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of April 17, 2003 Southwestern resignation Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Ken Hemphill has announced plans to resign from that post at the end of the current academic term. Hemphill, 54, said he will take "early retirement" from the seminary to become national strategist for the Southern Baptist Conventions Empowering Kingdom Growth initiative. He becomes the first president in the seminarys 95-year history to leave the post voluntarily for another position. Hemphill will complete the current academic term before moving to Nashville, Tenn., where he will be jointly employed by the SBC Executive Committee and LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Hemphill came to the school as president in 1994, succeeding Russell Dilday, who had been fired by fundamental/conservative trustees. Hemphills decision came in the midst of a trustee meeting on the Fort Worth, Texas, campus. Among other things, during the meeting, trustees approved a $30.8 million budget for the next academic year, an increase of 1.5 percent. They also adopted a new student fee structure that moves from a matriculation fee to a tuition-based system. Officials declined to reveal the approved … [Read more...]
In midst of war – a reminder of the meaning of Easter
The images of the statue of Saddam Hussein crunching to the ground in the heart of Baghdad seared themselves in the minds of people around the world. Those brief scenes capture the essence of why most Americans believe our military personnel are there. The images of the statue of Saddam Hussein crunching to the ground in the heart of Baghdad seared themselves in the minds of people around the world. Those brief scenes capture the essence of why most Americans believe our military personnel are there. When the United States troops lined Paradise Square, a handful of Iraqi men entered the square with a large, frayed rope and affixed a crude noose around the statues neck. They struggled to pull the huge, powerful statue to the ground, but their resources were not adequate. Their desire could not make up for their inadequate resources. Of course, the U.S. Marines in Iraq had more than adequate resources for the task. From their masses of heavy equipment the Marines have there, a tank retriever pulled up to the statue and, in a matter of moments, brought it to the ground. The men who earlier had rushed the statue to try to cause its fall now danced in … [Read more...]