A trio of Louisiana Baptists offered witness last week of one thing they know for sure – that God still is in the business of changing lives. A trio of Louisiana Baptists offered witness last week of one thing they know for sure – that God still is in the business of changing lives. During times of personal testimonies at last week’s Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference at First Baptist Church of Bossier City, the trio recounted how God had touched – and transformed – their lives. The stories were varied. During his presentation, Bobby Bates from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Winnfield told how God called him out of a life of drinking, drugs, fighting and partying to preach the gospel. “Jesus still saves – you can look right here,” he said. Bates acknowledged his road to faith was not easy. “I’ve been shot at, cut at, beat down,” he said. “I lived life on the edge. ... If I had fell not knowing Jesus, I’d gone straight to hell. ... “The devil pulled on me and pulled on me and pulled on me,” Bates emphasized. However, on January 11, 2004, after years of skirting around the edge of faith, Bates said he surrendered his life to Christ and found release from his previous lifestyle. Six months … [Read more...]
2004 Annie Armstrong offering closes at record high
Southern Baptists celebrated good news on the North American missions front last week with the announcement of a record annual offering. Southern Baptists celebrated good news on the North American missions front last week with the announcement of a record annual offering. Final receipts show that Southern Baptists gave a record $53.8 through the 2004 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. The gifts were fueled by strong showing in a number of states, including Louisiana, where final receipts for 2004 totaled a record of more than $1.6 million. Overall, the Southern Baptist total exceeded the previous year’s offering by almost $4.2 million (8.5 percent). It fell shy of the national offering goal of $54 million by just $154,011 (0.003 percent). Southern Baptist North American Mission Board President Robert Reccord described Southern Baptists’ sacrificial generosity in 2004 as a significant breakthrough in North American missions giving. “Southern Baptists have proven themselves faithful to the cause of missions and reaching North America for Christ,” Reccord said. “Never before has funding been more critical to the mission of ensuring that every person in the United … [Read more...]
SBC leader seeks input from younger Baptist ministers
What began with a frog in a kettle has evolved into a series of face-to-face dialogues throughout the country that began last month in Louisiana. What began with a frog in a kettle has evolved into a series of face-to-face dialogues throughout the country that began last month in Louisiana. LifeWay Christian Resources President James Draper Jr. visited First Baptist Church of Bossier City to show his support for and discuss the concerns of younger leaders throughout Louisiana. They gathered to brainstorm solutions to issues raised on LifeWay’s younger leaders online message board (www.lifeway.com/youngerleaders). “I know the problems and you do, too,” Draper told the more than 60 men and women gathered in the First Baptist Church choir room. “But what are we going to do about it?” With his “Is the Southern Baptist Convention a Frog in the Kettle?” column last June, Draper opened the doors of communication with Southern Baptist leaders under age 45 by voicing his concerns about the “lack of denominational involvement and loyalty ... among younger ministers.” When responses to that and subsequent columns flooded into his e-mail inbox, Draper began inviting people to post their concerns, observations and … [Read more...]
Harvest time!
There was no mistaking the emphasis of the 2005 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference – reaching the lost with the gospel. There was no mistaking the emphasis of the 2005 Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference – reaching the lost with the gospel. Speaker after speaker stressed the point – Christians must renew their focus and determination to take up the gospel task. In addition, they must understand the need to do things differently if they hope to reach the lost. Hundreds of persons from through the state attended the annual gathering, held at First Baptist Church of Bossier City. It focused on the theme “It’s Time to Harvest” as part of the Louisiana Baptist Convention emphasis on sharing the gospel throughout the state during 2005. The following articles offer summary accounts of major addresses during the two-day conference. ‘Something has to change’ If Baptists want to reach the lost for Christ, they better take a couple of lessons from the Apostle Paul and make some changes, Alvin Reid emphasized. “It’s obvious we don’t have a burden for lost people because we’re not reaching many, ...” said Reid, professor of evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. “Some of us need … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of February 7, 2005 Louisiana College New Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard has selected Rouse Caffey as interim vice president for academic affairs for the school. Caffey assumed duties Feb. 2, two weeks after Aguillard was elected president of the Baptist school. Caffey replaces Don Sprowl, who serves as chair of the school’s Division of Mathematics and Computer Science and was serving in the interim vice president position. Sprowl voluntarily stepped down from that position following Aguillard’s election in order to devote more time to teaching, a school news release noted. “Dr. Caffey brings the perfect combination of administrative experience, academic excellence and a vision for faith-based liberal arts education that Louisiana College needs,” Aguillard said. Caffey is chancellor emeritus of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, having served there from 1984 to 1997. He served as chancellor of Louisiana State University at Alexandria from 1981 to 1984. He is a member at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Financial resources GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention (formerly the Annuity Board) reached an all-time high of $8.3 billion in assets at … [Read more...]
Remembering a life
I wanted to express my appreciation for the life and ministry of Dr. Clifton Tennison (a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor who recently died at the age of 85). Remembering a life I wanted to express my appreciation for the life and ministry of Dr. Clifton Tennison (a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor who recently died at the age of 85). The college ministry at First Baptist Church of West Monroe (where Tennison was longtime pastor) meant a great deal to me during my years at Northeast Louisiana Univeristy (now University of Louisiana at Monroe), and during that time, I surrendered to the ministry. I still remember walking to the front of the sanctuary during a Sunday night invitation and taking Dr. Tennison’s hand to tell him that God was speaking to me about going to seminary. “Dr. T” took an interest in me from then on and continued to send letters of encouragement when I started my work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His kind words and support made all the difference for a young college student seeking God’s direction for his life. Danny Chisholm, Pastor Signal Mountain Baptist Church Good enough for me Re: January 20, 2005, Baptist Message editorial on “Now is the time for all to pray for … [Read more...]
‘The Passion’s’ lack of long-term impact emphasizes church’s role
Almost one year ago at Easter time, a commercial movie smashed into the consciousness of the United States. "The Passion of The Christ" was an in-your-face, big-screen presentation of the writer-producer-actor Mel Gibson's understanding of the Passion of Christ, or the last 12 hours of Christ's life. Almost one year ago at Easter time, a commercial movie smashed into the consciousness of the United States. "The Passion of The Christ" was an in-your-face, big-screen presentation of the writer-producer-actor Mel Gibson’s understanding of the Passion of Christ, or the last 12 hours of Christ’s life. A year ago, when movie houses showing the tremendous production were filled to overflowing, many wondered what the lasting impact of the movie would be. Would the movie change the lives of those who saw it? Would the movie bring revival to the church? Would the unabashedly religious movie change Hollywood’s attitude about the profitability of different kinds of movies than the ones they have been producing? A year later, we apparently know the answers to these questions, and they are not what most in the church hoped they would be. A recent Barna Research Group poll shows that the vast majority of people who … [Read more...]
Even leukemia has not kept this 12-year-old from helping others
Katie Vacanti-Mitchell turned 12 last April, loves the color purple, plays softball and soccer and teases her two younger brothers one minute then mothers them the next. Katie Vacanti-Mitchell turned 12 last April, loves the color purple, plays softball and soccer and teases her two younger brothers one minute then mothers them the next. She considers herself pretty ordinary. However, Vacanti-Mitchell’s world changed after her birthday when doctors diagnosed her with leukemia. The irony sobered Katie, who had spent a year growing her hair long for Locks of Love, a group that creates wigs for cancer patients from donated hair. The first night she spent in the hospital, Vacanti-Mitchell says she sat on the bathroom floor by herself, buried her face in her hands and unsuccessfully tried to muffle her sobs from her parents. “I just kept saying, ‘I don’t want to have cancer’ and ‘I just want to go home and everything be all right,’” she recalls. However, Vacanti-Mitchell did not let her sadness stick around for long. During her stay at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, she was visited by Monroe Carell Jr., founder of the medical institution and CEO of Central Parking Corp., where her dad, James, works. During … [Read more...]
Right in the middle – Bush and presidential faith
Much has been written – and suggested – about the faith of President George Bush and his expressions of it. But exactly where does Bush rank among past American presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Much has been written – and suggested – about the faith of President George Bush and his expressions of it. But exactly where does Bush rank among past American presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Well, as far as author David Aikman can tell, Bush should be placed squarely in the middle on that count. “Virtually every American president in office has either been a person of faith or a supporter of the principle that faith was a good thing,” said Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time magazine who has written a book about Bush’s Christian faith. “I think this particular president – although he has been more outspoken than most recent people in office – is absolutely in the mainstream of an important American historical tradition.” In terms of religiosity, Aikman compares the current president to Democrats Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter and to Republicans Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley. Even Thomas Jefferson – a deist – recognized the importance of religion while … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist minister in the running as ‘American Idol’ contestant
America soon will learn if a Louisiana Baptist will be named the next “American Idol.” Jonathan Murrell is a 25-year-old minister of music at First Baptist Church of Pollock. Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter America soon will learn if a Louisiana Baptist will be named the next “American Idol.” Jonathan Murrell is a 25-year-old minister of music at First Baptist Church of Pollock. He auditioned in New Orleans last summer with 10,000 other aspiring singers who hoped to land a spot on the television music reality show “American Idol.” After three days of auditions, Murrell was one of 16 contestants from those auditions chosen to advance to the next round of competition in Hollywood, Calif. New Orleans was one of seven cities that hosted a total of about 100,000 individuals who competed for 160 spots in the Hollywood round, which is currently on Fox television network. After two more weeks of competition – which was taped last year – the field will be narrowed to 24 contestants. Then, the show will be shown live on Fox, where, each week, viewers will vote via telephone calls and cellular telephone text messaging for the contestants they wish to remain in the competition. Murrell characterized the … [Read more...]
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