Now, one can add a new designation to Generation X and Generation Y – Generation M. It is the missionary generation, a fast-growing group of young adults emerging from religious colleges who are engaging the culture with values and perspectives counter to the typical secular student. Now, one can add a new designation to Generation X and Generation Y – Generation M. It is the missionary generation, a fast-growing group of young adults emerging from religious colleges who are engaging the culture with values and perspectives counter to the typical secular student. At least, that is how Naomi Schaefer Riley sees things. In her new book, “God on the Quad: How Religious Colleges and the Missionary Generation Are Changing America,” Riley explains what she learned from visiting 20 religious colleges in 2001 and 2002. The visits revealed some significant ways Generation M students are set apart, said Riley, who has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications. “They reject the spiritually-empty education of secular schools,” she said. “They refuse to accept the sophisticated ennui of their contemporaries. “They snub the ‘spiritual but not religious’ attitude,” Riley … [Read more...]
Hankins ready to lead LBC in kingdom advance
David Hankins acknowledged that some people shy away from using military terms and imagery these days. But when it comes to talking about the task confronting Louisiana Baptists, he is not one of them. C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor David Hankins acknowledged that some people shy away from using military terms and imagery these days. But when it comes to talking about the task confronting Louisiana Baptists, he is not one of them. “We are in the God’s army,” emphasized Hankins, who assumed full responsibility as Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director at the start of February. That means it falls to every Louisiana Baptist to “recognize that they have been enlisted in the army of the Lord Jesus, and they are to advance his kingdom,” he added. Every soldier is responsible – and the most important thing individual Louisiana Baptists can do at this time is focus on their own lives and answer God’s claim on them as participants in the kingdom of God, Hankins said. Growing the kingdom of God and moving it forward in Louisiana are key themes for Hankins as he assumes the helm of the state convention this month. He was elected to the position unanimously last fall, leaving a top … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of February 14, 2005 LBC finances Louisiana Baptists opened 2005 with a total of $1,889,107 in state Cooperative Program gifts, a decrease of $216,280 (10.3 percent) from the previous January. Nevertheless, the total still stands almost $56,000 ahead of monthly budget needs, launching the year on a positive note. In other areas of Louisiana Baptist giving: • Gifts through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions totaled almost $1.7 million last month, a drop of $34,000 (2 percent) from the previous January. The offering runs on a June 1-to-May 31 basis each year. With four months remaining in the 2004 offering, Louisiana Baptists gifts total almost $2.7 million, a decrease of $125,000 (4.5 percent) from the same time last year. • Gifts through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions totaled $136,046 last month, an increase of $32,000 (30.9 percent) from the previous January. The offering runs on the calendar year. • Gifts through the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions totaled $121,356 last month, an increase of $3,200 (2.7 percent) from the previous January. The offering runs on the calendar year. • Gifts through the Southern Baptist World … [Read more...]
Who holds sway? Southern Baptists top list of those influencing the church
A pair of Southern Baptists hold the most sway – or influence – over American churches and church leaders, a new poll indicates. A pair of Southern Baptists hold the most sway – or influence – over American churches and church leaders, a new poll indicates. Evangelist Billy Graham and California pastor/author Rick Warren hold the top spots in the poll by the Barna Research Group. Surprisingly, President George Bush ranks in third place. Researcher George Barna asked American pastors to name three individuals whom they believe have the greatest influence on churches and church leaders in America. While the pastors listed more than 300 different names, just 10 persons were chosen by 4 percent or more of the ministers. Graham was chosen by 34 percent of respondents, and Warren was selected by 26 percent. Bush was named by 14 percent of pastors, while focus on the Family founder James Dobson was cited by 11 percent of survey respondents. Others on the list – in descending order – were Bill Hybels (9 percent), T.D. Jakes (7 percent), John Maxwell (6 percent), George Barna (5 percent), Pope John Paul II (5 percent) and Max Lucado (4 percent). Graham led among mainline, Baptist and Pentecostal pastors. … [Read more...]
Christian leaders urge greater fight against poverty
A host of Christian leaders have called on President George Bush to expand his administration’s emphasis on “overcoming hunger and poverty” – both in American and worldwide. A host of Christian leaders have called on President George Bush to expand his administration’s emphasis on “overcoming hunger and poverty” – both in American and worldwide. “A dramatic reduction in poverty, both here and abroad, would honor our Lord who called us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” the leaders said in a January 17 letter to the president. “It would also be a wonderful legacy for you to leave with the American people and indeed the world. “Such an outcome is clearly within the reach of the richest nation in history,” the various leaders continued. “The moral values you share with us demand no less.” Signers of the letter included Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Leaders of groups such as Bread for the World, World Relief, Evangelicals for Social Action, The Salvation Army and the Assemblies of God also joined in signing the letter. Several Baptist college presidents signed as well. The letter came just prior to release of Bush’s proposed budget for 2006. … [Read more...]
He took Jesus literally – and welcomed his persecutor into his home with love
The four previous encounters between the Hindu man and the young Sri Lankan pastor had been violent. The four previous encounters between the Hindu man and the young Sri Lankan pastor had been violent. Each of those four times, Balram (not his real name) led a mob attacking Vijyaraj, the young pastor. And each time, Vijyaraj was tied up by the mob and severely beaten while his church was set ablaze. However, each time, the congregation of Heavenly Mission Harvest Church in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, rebuilt, and Vijyaraj kept preaching about Jesus. But despite that history, when the men met for a fifth time – in the horrific aftermath of Sri Lanka’s tsunami in late December – Vijyaraj lived out a sermon on Christian forgiveness. In four years since becoming the first Christian convert in his rural fishing village of 300 people – and despite the fierce and ongoing persecution of the militant Hindus – Vijyaraj has led his church to grow to include 27 families. All of the families were worshiping on the morning of Dec. 26 when the tsunami swept onto the coast of Sri Lanka. While many church members lost homes and fishing boats, not a single Christian from the village drowned, though as many as 10 of … [Read more...]
He achieved all of his goals – only to find something missing
When Jess Franks was named as a clown for the National Finals Rodeo, he thought he had reached the apex of rodeo success. When Jess Franks was named as a clown for the National Finals Rodeo, he thought he had reached the apex of rodeo success. Thousands of fans had watched him perform across the nation, and one of his acts became so popular that it was recognized in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. However, Franks says he eventually discovered that professional achievements did not translate into lasting contentment. After more than four decades of rodeo success, Franks says he found true contentment for the first time by committing his life to Jesus Christ. Today, Franks is a member at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield, N.M. But at the beginning of his rodeo career, church was the last place Franks expected to find himself. “I was raised on a ranch, and I rodeoed for a living all my life,” he says. “So, my lifestyle was drinking, dancing, fighting, carousing, just whatever I wanted to do. I had a conscience, and it bothered me but not to the extent that it slowed me down. ... “There were no holds barred for me – nothing. I tried to be nice to people, and I tried to get along with people … [Read more...]
Suddenly, my writing pen is worth more than gold
Expensive things are real burdens – most especially if one is not accustomed to dealing with expensive things. Expensive things are real burdens – most especially if one is not accustomed to dealing with expensive things. Ten or 15 years ago, my only brother, Paul, for no particular reason, gave me a solid gold fountain pen. It arrived in a beautiful box and certainly cost more than any other fountain pen I ever have owned. Inside the box also was a return certificate that entitled me to send the pen – along with my signature on the certificate – back to the company to have the signature engraved onto the pen. Knowing how rich people are treated was nice. Every other time I had put my name on something, it had cost me money, but this time, they were going to do something “nice and lasting” with my signature. That never had happened with a Bic pen. For years, I only used the pen for special occasions, like signing marriage certificates at weddings. I have no idea how much a solid gold pen costs, but however much it may be, it was more than I wanted to lose. So, the pen spent most of the time in my cufflinks box. Being notorious at losing things, I simply did not want to add the pen to the long … [Read more...]
Envisioning the future: New leader discusses his goals for Louisiana College
Joe Aguillard was elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville – effective immediately – during a called meeting of school trustees on January 17. Since that time, he has dialogued with various college groups – students, faculty, staff and outside supporters. Joe Aguillard was elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville – effective immediately – during a called meeting of school trustees on January 17. Since that time, he has dialogued with various college groups – students, faculty, staff and outside supporters. As part of that process, he agreed to a question-and-answer session with the Louisiana Baptist Message. It appears in full below. Aguillard, 48, is no stranger to Louisiana College. A 1977 alumnus, he joined the faculty in 2000 as chair of the LC Division of Education. Still, last year, as his name emerged as a presidential possibility, opposition was evident. Faculty members voted to oppose his election, and members of the college community lined up on either side of the issue. Trustees eventually voted 17-13 to elect Aguillard. Aguillard assumes office as the Louisiana Baptist school enters a year of academic probation. Last fall, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of February 21, 2005 New Orleans witness After an all-night prayer vigil and morning chapel message, Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students and faculty recently took the gospel to the streets. Welch and about 100 members of the seminary family fanned out in early February to share the gospel in the community around seminary. Twelve people made professions of faith in Christ. During a pre-witnessing chapel service, Welch reminded persons that there is a longing among people today – but that the harvest will last only a short time. “The world is waiting for us to come with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said. “There are people out there with whom God is dealing.” Welch urged members of the seminary community to commit to training, witnessing, baptizing, giving, starting new units and participating in Vacation Bible School. Work in these six areas is essential if the Southern Baptist Convention is to reach the goal of 1 million baptisms in one year, he said. The evangelism blitz as a great success, said David Platt, an instructor of evangelism at the seminary. “Not only did 12 people place their faith in Christ, but God taught the students and … [Read more...]
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