Alongside the greenery and candles usually associated with Advent, some churches this year are using lions, witches and wardrobes to help worshipers experience the Christmas story. Alongside the greenery and candles usually associated with Advent, some churches this year are using lions, witches and wardrobes to help worshipers experience the Christmas story. Drawing on images from Narnia – a mythical world created by Christian author C. S. Lewis – these churches are leading members on an Advent journey from a cold land where it is “always winter and never Christmas” into a vibrant country where “the spell is broken” and believers encounter “deeper magic before the dawn of time.” Congregations are capitalizing on renewed interest in The Chronicles of Narnia series of children’s books, sparked by a new movie version of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” As worshippers enter University Baptist Church in Houston, they pass through a cardboard wardrobe in the vestibule before they enter a sanctuary decorated with a winter theme. When Lucy, one of the main characters in the story, entered Narnia, one of the first images that caught her eye was a lamppost in the middle of a snowy field. Similarly, a … [Read more...]
New Orleans pastors buoyed by church’s Christmas banquet
Lots of food and plenty of hugs among fellow ministers and wives created an atmosphere of hope and renewal during a Christmas party for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans hosted by First Baptist Church in Covington. Lots of food and plenty of hugs among fellow ministers and wives created an atmosphere of hope and renewal during a Christmas party for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans hosted by First Baptist Church in Covington. The event provided an opportunity for some of those persons to see each other for the first time since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in South Louisiana. Waylon Bailey, the Covington church’s pastor, who experienced some of the same horrors in his community as did the New Orleans pastors, said, “... We are touched to have you here. You are our heroes.” Noting how Baptists from around the nation responded to the crisis, Bailey said, “I have never been more proud to be a Southern Baptist.” Recounting how his neighbors have responded to him since receiving help by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams, Bailey said, “God is making a difference in all of this.... There is now an openness to the Gospel like we have never seen before.” First, Covington and … [Read more...]
Tree specialist donates services to NOBTS restoration
Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, certified arborist Jim Breaux offered a week of tree service to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. But the onslaught of flooding across the city put his trip on hold. Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, certified arborist Jim Breaux offered a week of tree service to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. But the onslaught of flooding across the city put his trip on hold. When Breaux’s crew arrived two months later, one week of work stretched to three once they saw the extent of the tree damage on the campus. Breaux, his son Austin and two other employees removed broken limbs and dead wood. They also pruned the trees and completed stump grinding for the many downed trees. All this at no cost to the seminary. Breaux, owner of Personal Touch Tree Service in Dallas, lived in New Orleans for 10 years. During that time, he developed a friendship with a young couple at First Baptist Church in New Orleans – Chuck and Rhonda Kelley. Chuck Kelley was still a New Orleans Seminary student when Breaux met the future seminary faculty member and president. Breaux left New Orleans 18 years ago, but he continued his friendship with the Kelleys and serves on the … [Read more...]
Gospel multiplies among Lingayats, coordinators may leave
God has moved so dramatically among one Last Frontier people group in South Asia that the Southern Baptist missionaries working among them since 1997 are planning to shift their focus to another people without access to the Gospel. God has moved so dramatically among one Last Frontier people group in South Asia that the Southern Baptist missionaries working among them since 1997 are planning to shift their focus to another people without access to the Gospel. When Marty and Jodi Hunter* decided to accept responsibility for taking the gospel to India’s Lingayat people, other Christian workers didn’t offer them much hope of success. In 1997, researchers could count only 800 Christians and no churches among the Lingayats, a high-caste Hindu group that numbers 15 million. “People discouraged us, saying the people were hard-hearted, that the work would be fruitless,” Hunter says. “Today we’re looking at about 3,000 believers – most of them people who have come to faith in the past two years.” The number of Lingayat believers is growing so rapidly that Hunter believes they will see 18,000 believers in 1,000 house churches by 2006 – a movement strong enough to be left in the capable hands of local believers … [Read more...]
Simple technology allows homebound to attend church services
Margaret Coffey is a faithful member of Unity Baptist Church and “attends” services every week even though she is homebound and lives nearly 100 miles away. Margaret Coffey is a faithful member of Unity Baptist Church and “attends” services every week even though she is homebound and lives nearly 100 miles away. Thanks to remote listening technology offered through LifeWay Christian Resources, Coffey can feel connected to Unity Baptist and a Christian family in spite of her inability to physically go to the Allardt, Tenn., church every week. “She feels like she knows some people in the church,” says Linda Smith, Coffey’s daughter and a Unity Baptist member. “She feels like they know her and know of her and know me as her daughter. Mom really felt like she was connected.” A number of individuals resort to television or radio broadcasts of worship services when they must attend church from their homes. While these methods offer sermons and worship, they lack the personal connection a church family provides. Mike Northcutt, pastor of Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., recognized the need to provide worship opportunities for homebound individuals, but his church couldn’t afford to … [Read more...]
Weekly announcements
Week of December 12, 2005 Potpourri BELLE CHASSE – First church: Sponsoring “Battered...but still shining the light,” Dec. 17, 5 p.m.; event is to encourage and praise the churches of Plaquemines parish during the difficult times since Hurricane Katrina; admission is free; Richard Strahan, minister of music; Paul Hussey, interim pastor. SHREVEPORT – Trinity Heights church: Don Piper, guest speaking on his book “90 Minutes in Heaven,” Dec. 24, 6 p.m.; public invited; free admission; Billy Crosby, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Calvary church: “A Very Special Night of Praise” concert presented by Price Harris; Jan. 6, 2006, 7 p.m.; free admission; Rick Edmonds, pastor. Youth DEVILLE – Big Island church: “Gettin’ Ready for a Miracle” children’s musical; Dec. 18, 6 p.m.; Todd Burgess, pastor. Christmas Programs DENHAM SPRINGS – Riverside church: “Start at the Manger, Then Go to the Cross” musical; Dec. 18, 6 p.m.; Live outdoor manger; Dec. 18, 7-8 p.m.; Dec. 21, 7-8 p.m.; Johnny Skinner, interim music minister; Larry A. Hubbard, pastor. SLIDELL – Grace Memorial church: “Festival of Lights” musical; Dec. 18, 6:15 p.m.; Marty Stone, minister of music; Bob Heustess, pastor. RINGGOLD – First church: “A Carol to … [Read more...]
Chaplains help pastors on Gulf Coast face an uncertain future
Joe Williams has encountered plenty of discouragement lately while counseling pastors around the Gulf Coast region, but he has also seen rays of hope. Joe Williams has encountered plenty of discouragement lately while counseling pastors around the Gulf Coast region, but he has also seen rays of hope. One that shone recently involved a young pastor who talked of working 10 to 12 hours a day with area residents, displaced church members and visitors to his church’s feeding site. After this grueling regimen, the pastor described not feeling like much of a husband or father when he got home. He then broke into tears. “Then I asked, ‘What was your best experience?’” said Williams, an FBI chaplain temporarily stationed in New Orleans with the North American Mission Board. “He said, ‘(NAMB President) Bob Reccord called me and asked, ‘How can I pray for you?’ That helps me.’” Well known among Southern Baptists for his efforts after the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City and the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Williams hopes to have other, similar encounters in the near future in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) sent Williams and SBC chaplain Naomi Paget to the Gulf in … [Read more...]
A year later, tsunami survivors still need help – and hope
The tsunami that roared ashore last Dec. 26 invaded the lives of millions of south Asians – stealing loved ones, scarring hearts, destroying homes and communities. (Editor’s note: One year after the massive Asian tsunami killed up to 250,000 people, Southern Baptists continue relief and rebuilding efforts. Missionary writer Goldie Frances – name changed for security reasons – who covered the tsunami’s immediate aftermath in Sri Lanka, recently returned to the south Asian island nation to survey ongoing aid ministries there.) The tsunami that roared ashore last Dec. 26 invaded the lives of millions of south Asians – stealing loved ones, scarring hearts, destroying homes and communities. One year later, the television cameras are gone, but the hurt isn’t. Empty arms and miles of rubble linger to keep the pain fresh. “Every morning they wake up to that reminder,” said Ned Thaxton*, a volunteer working in tsunami relief through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. The tsunami, set off by a massive earthquake on the ocean floor near the Indonesian island of Sumatra, affected many nations – including the south Asian countries of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Governments, relief agencies and … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of December 19, 2005 LC lawsuit filed A lawsuit has been filed against Louisiana College, the college’s president and certain members of its board of trustees by four of the college’s present professors and one retired professor who had previously settled a suit against Leon Hyatt and what was then The Louisiana Conservative Resurgency, a forerunner of LIFe. The settlement of the suit included certain terms the college and individuals agreed to, but some of which the defendants say have been violated by the school and individual trustees. A suit is a claim made in court for damages or relief against the defendants. The allegations must be proven in a court of law. A trial date has not been set. Louisiana College president told the Alexandria Daily Town Talk when asked about the suit, “We will not be bullied.” Silent Night controversy An elementary school in Wisconsin allegedly has written new lyrics for “Silent Night” for its winter program, stripping away all references to Christ and replacing them with winter weather themes. The conservative legal group Liberty Counsel says that Ridgeway Elementary School – located approximately 30 miles west of Madison – is asking students to memorize “Cold in the … [Read more...]
Trustees hear SACS report before meeting
Louisiana College trustees received and discussed a report concerning its accreditation before its regularly scheduled December meeting but according to school officials, did not discuss it during its official board meeting. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter Louisiana College trustees received and discussed a report concerning its accreditation before its regularly scheduled December meeting but according to school officials, did not discuss it during its official board meeting. Trustees also received a draft of an updated faculty handbook and took other actions related to the business of the school during the board meeting. The faculty handbook committee is working to update the periodical. A final draft of the handbook will be released during Louisiana College’s March board meeting. The committee was formed after a consultant suggested the move. A committee comprised of four trustees, two faculty members and two administrators was formed to create the new handbook. Trustees discussed the business during a closed door meeting. The Baptist Message was asked to leave the meeting and was told the reason was because members of the accreditation review committee had suggested that no members of the … [Read more...]