It is 6:30 on a cool Thursday winter evening in northeast Louisiana. Already, 20 people are congregating in B.C. Haley’s converted potato barn, sipping coffee and munching on cookies. Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter It is 6:30 on a cool Thursday winter evening in northeast Louisiana. Already, 20 people are congregating in B.C. Haley’s converted potato barn, sipping coffee and munching on cookies. Pastor Ron Bray and a handful of others from First Baptist Church of Kilbourne greet guests as they arrive for the 7 p.m. worship service. There is singing, prayer time and preaching – cowboy style. Instead of a piano and organ, musicians utilize guitars, a keyboard and fiddles as they play on a stage behind decorative saddles which rest on bales of hay. Bray dresses in his white cowboy hat, tan vest, blue jeans and boots. The congregation sits in lawn chairs. Since last July, the church has opened the doors of Haley’s barn for the weekly gathering that is known as the Cross Trail Cowboy Church. Haley never dreamed his barn would be used for such a purpose. “We’re reaching people, and they come as they are,” Haley explains. “We’re not just playing around – we’re trying to win souls.” Attendance … [Read more...]
What can be done in times of plateaus and dips?
Plateaus are part of every journey, and these become especially obvious if the journey is represented by a graph. Businesses experience plateaus; individuals experience plateaus; churches experience plateaus; denominations experience plateaus. And sometimes, the journey experiences not just a plateau but a dip or, occasionally, a downward spiral. Plateaus are part of every journey, and these become especially obvious if the journey is represented by a graph. Businesses experience plateaus; individuals experience plateaus; churches experience plateaus; denominations experience plateaus. And sometimes, the journey experiences not just a plateau but a dip or, occasionally, a downward spiral. Baptists dislike plateaus and dips and downward spirals in their graphs because they reflect fewer people following Christ and fewer people accepting Christ as their personal savior and/or fewer dollars supporting what we believe is kingdom work. So, what should we do when we experience plateaus and dips? We can sit back and believe such trends are inevitable. We can look at the graphs of other churches, individuals or denominations and take solace in their plateaus or dips. Or – we can dream again. Jeanne Tessier … [Read more...]
Supporters from across the state gather to focus on Louisiana College
Persons from across Central Louisiana and elsewhere in the state gathered at Louisiana College recently to pray for the future of the school. Persons from across Central Louisiana and elsewhere in the state gathered at Louisiana College recently to pray for the future of the school. More than 300 persons gathered at the Louisiana Baptist school in Pineville on Feb. 19 to participate in a campus prayerwalk designed to signal a new day of spirituality fir the college. “God promised us in 2 Chronicles 20 when we declare, ‘Our eyes are upon thee,’ his reply is, ‘Be not afraid, the battle is not yours but God’s. Stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord, ...’” new LC President Joe Aguillard said in announcing plans for the event earlier this year. “God’s promises are real and true, and he will bless our obedience,” Aguillard added. “This call to prayer is a total acknowledgment that God is in charge of Louisiana College, and our allegiance to him will bring his blessings upon us.” Aguillard addressed the gathered participants at the start of the prayerwalk. Persons then were led in small groups to various campus sites for times of prayer. Following those directed sessions, participants reconvened … [Read more...]
Answer his call … tell his story … change your world
Missions is not just about overseas efforts – it also is an unfinished task at home, in this country, in this state, in every neighborhood. Missions is not just about overseas efforts – it also is an unfinished task at home, in this country, in this state, in every neighborhood. The Southern Baptist Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering – set for March 6-13 this year – is a reminder of that fact. Each year, Southern Baptists take time to focus on the North American missions task and to pray for the resources – and workers – needed to meet the needs. The Annie Armstrong offering supplies much of the financial needs, with 100 percent of its gifts being used for missions support. Last year, Southern Baptists gave almost $54 million through the offering. The goal for the offering this year is $55 million. However, the offering does not supply all the needs – as the theme for this year’s missions focus asserts. Indeed, the responsibility to answer the gospel call falls on each Southern Baptist – whether that call is to pray, give or go out in service of the gospel – perhaps elsewhere in the nation or throughout the state or around the corner or even across the … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist gifts for tsunami aid top $10 million
As ministry to Asian tsunami survivors begins the transition from emergency relief to long-term recovery, Southern Baptist gifts to the aid effort have topped $10 million. As ministry to Asian tsunami survivors begins the transition from emergency relief to long-term recovery, Southern Baptist gifts to the aid effort have topped $10 million. By Feb. 17, gifts for tsunami aid through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board surpassed $10,209,000 – an unprecedented outpouring of compassion, leaders say. So far, about $2.5 million has been disbursed for nearly 50 aid projects, ranging from food and water distribution, medical care, temporary shelter and sanitation to providing fishing nets and reconstruction materials for villagers struggling to rebuild their lives. More projects will be funded in the months to come, a mission board spokesperson said. They will support ongoing relief as well as longer-term efforts to help areas rebuild. Every penny given will go to tsunami-related ministry, the spokesperson said. “The resources we’re using have come through Southern Baptists, but they’ve come from God,” he noted. “When it’s all said and done, I’m sure we will have utilized all we’ve received – … [Read more...]
LBC leader cites need for ‘gospel intentionality’
With almost 200 churches not reporting 2004 figures, Wayne Jenkins cannot be certain exactly how many baptisms were recorded by Louisiana Baptists last year. But he is certain about one thing. C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor With almost 200 churches not reporting 2004 figures, Wayne Jenkins cannot be certain exactly how many baptisms were recorded by Louisiana Baptists last year. But he is certain about one thing. “We’re low, ...” said Jenkins, evangelism director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “There’s no doubt about it. We’re losing ground.” When the 2004 LBC Annual is published, it will show that Louisiana Baptist churches recorded more than 12,900 baptisms, an increase of about 1 percent) from 2003. Of course, that is without 195 churches reporting. If those churches averaged five baptisms each last year, the state total actually could be close to 14,000. That would bring the annual total to about the same level seen in last half of the 1990s. Then, when a church did not report, convention leaders used the baptism figures from the previous year to calculate the total. Now, non-reporting churches simply are counted as zero. But all of that is calculation problems. What … [Read more...]
Cartoon characters latest focal point in fight about homosexuality
The battle for the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle in America appears to have a new focal point – cartoon characters. The battle for the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle in America appears to have a new focal point – cartoon characters. Consider: • A children’s music video featuring SpongeBob SquarePants has been criticized by traditional family advocates as indirectly promoting homosexuality. In the video, SpongeBob and other cartoon characters – such as Arthur, Barney and Big Bird – sing the popular 1970s tune, “We are Family.” While the video does not mention homosexuality, the video’s distributor – the We Are Family Foundation – has a tolerance pledge on its Web site that includes “sexual identity.” The video is being sent to 61,000 public and private elementary schools nationwide. • Producers of the PBS children’s show “Postcards from Buster” have filmed an episode in which Buster – a cartoon bunny who travels the U.S. meeting real people – visits a lesbian couple. A little girl introduces Buster to “my mom and Gillian” before everyone sits down for dinner. PBS since has said it will not air the episode, but the producer says it will provide the show to stations that want it. • In … [Read more...]
New LBC leader issues call for focus, commitment
Louisiana Baptists face concerns and challenges – but they all can be overcome with comitment and a focus on the positive, the new leader of the state convention indicated last week. Louisiana Baptists face concerns and chal- lenges – but they all can be overcome with commitment and a focus on the positive, the new leader of the state convention indicated last week. “When we look at the concerns, we need to remember they are not nothing,” said David Hankins, who arrived as the executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention at the start of the new year. “They need to be dealt with. Some of them are serious, some more serious than others. So, they’re not nothing. We’re not going to ... put our heads in the sand and just hope they go away by themselves. We’re not going to abdicate leadership responsibilities. “But also remember, they’re not everything. ... And our perspective is – there’s a lot of good things we need to be working on.” Hankins noted his conversations with others have highlighted three major areas of concerns that most Louisiana Baptists readily would be able to identify. He said his conversations have been with “sincere and involved and engaged” people on various sides of … [Read more...]
Now is the time for all to pray for Louisiana College
The events at Louisiana College during the past six months have generated more letters to the editor than any other issue in the 26 years this editor has been with the Baptist Message. The events at Louisiana College during the last six months have generated more letters to the editor than any other issue in the 26 years this editor has been with the Baptist Message. And the letters have been stronger in wording and sometimes harsher in tone than letters on any other issue. This certainly demonstrates that Louisiana College is dear to the hearts of Louisiana Baptists and that they care deeply about what happens with the college and at the college. The most recent issue that has sparked widespread response is the called meeting of the Louisiana College board of trustees on January 17. (This editorial is written on January 14, and the publication date is January 20 – thus, the awkwardness of the tenses of the verbs.) The board will meet to consider their newly-constituted search committee’s recommendation to elect Joe Aguillard as president of the Louisiana Baptist school. Actually, the committee was instructed to make consideration of Aguillard its first action after being reconstituted. The Baptist … [Read more...]
Still unknown – is it the burial box of the brother of Jesus or not?
About two years ago, a small stone box made a worldwide splash as the reputed final resting place for the remains of James, the brother of Jesus. About two years ago, a small stone box made a worldwide splash as the reputed final resting place for the remains of James, the brother of Jesus. The so-called James Ossuary was acclaimed as a historic archaeological find by many biblical scholars. It also was questioned by other notable researchers and denounced as a fake by Israeli authorities in June 2003. Now, those critics have more weight on their side – the recent indictment of four antiques collectors in Jerusalem, accused of forging biblical artifacts, many so skillfully that they fooled experts. “The entire archaeology community is reeling as a result of these indictments,” Israeli-British archaeologist Shimon Gibson said. “It’s now quite clear that if these allegations are credible, it means that some artifacts which are in museum collections are now known to be forgeries.” That may or may not include the James Ossuary. Indeed, that artifact needs a careful examination to determine whether it is an authentic relic or merely a common first-century burial box with a phony inscription, a Southern … [Read more...]