Evangelistically, the Southern Baptist Convention is “on the path of slow but discernable deterioration,” a leading church growth expert said recently. Evangelistically, the Southern Baptist Convention is “on the path of slow but discernable deterioration,” a leading church growth expert said recently. However, he has a “modest proposal” designed to change that. The conservative resurgence has not yet reversed an “evangelistic crisis” in the Southern Baptist Convention, said Thom Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. (See Page One article) In articles related to a recent study, Rainer offers six possible hypotheses for the current condition of evangelism in the convention and five suggestions that may result in positive change. Rainer’s six possible hypotheses to explain the state of Southern Baptist Convention soul-winning are: • The evangelistic fields in the United States are much less receptive than they were in past years. Although the hypothesis seems plausible on the surface, Rainer argued that most non-Christian Americans remain receptive to the gospel. He cited research that finds that only 8 million of … [Read more...]
‘Cool’ does not set one free – the gospel truth does
A word about faith from outside our religious bailiwick can be sobering. Take, for instance, these statements from Bob Jeffrey, chair and CEO of Worldwide JWT. These challenging statements are from an address the advertising guru gave in China. He was speaking about the influence of China and India – countries with the world’s two most massive populations – on the West, including the United States: A word about faith from outside our religious bailiwick can be sobering. Take, for instance, these statements from Bob Jeffrey, chair and CEO of Worldwide JWT. These challenging statements are from an address the advertising guru gave in China. He was speaking about the influence of China and India – countries with the world’s two most massive populations – on the West, including the United States: “It may sound strange to Chinese ears, but in the West, the spiritual traditions of the East have an increasingly large following,” Jeffrey noted. “Many of the people who rate themselves as spiritual rather than religious feel closer to Buddhism than to Christianity, Islam or Judaism. “Those three monotheistic religions that have shaped the history of the Middle East and the West now score pretty low on cool factor. In … [Read more...]
‘A change of heart’ – Jewish performer now embraces Christ
Jewish parody rap star 50 Shekel once was billed as “The World’s Most Kosher MC.” Now, he has shocked the Jewish world with two announcements on his Web site – he has accepted Jesus as his Messiah and wishes to be called by his birth name, Aviad Cohen. Jewish parody rap star 50 Shekel once was billed as “The World’s Most Kosher MC.” Now, he has shocked the Jewish world with two announcements on his Web site – he has accepted Jesus as his Messiah and wishes to be called by his birth name, Aviad Cohen. Cohen, 30, gained popularity with his hit “In da Shul,” a spoof on the gangster rap single “In da Club.” Cohen did gigs around New York in 2003. At the time, he said he wanted to rap about Judaism. Raised an observant Jew in Israel and Brooklyn, Cohen told Beliefnet in 2003 that he was in the process of becoming closer to the Torah and orthodoxy. “Judaism is what made me – all the values and ethics that the Torah teaches,” he said. But he said in early June that he has now chosen to lead a Messianic Jewish lifestyle. And on July 6, Cohen announced he has given up the name 50 Shekel and will now go solely by his given name. Like Christians, Messianic Jews believe that Jesus was the expected Messiah. Though … [Read more...]
‘I needed something supernatural. … I needed God’
It is one thing to meet one’s hero – and another thing to hear one’s hero talk about his. It is one thing to meet one’s hero – and another thing to hear one’s hero talk about his. But that is what happened when more than 500 people from all walks of life – churched and un-churched – got in line at the LifeWay Christian Store in Monroe, to meet Steve Borden, a.k.a. Sting, world champion wrestler. Borden signed copies of his book, “Sting: Moment of Truth,” which offers a testimony of how God changed his life and saved his marriage and family. Jeremy Pendergraft stood near the front of the line, wearing a black tee-shirt with the image of a skull on the front and sporting multiple earrings and several tattoos up and down his arms. “Sting is awesome,” Pendergraft said. “He’s a great wrestler with a great heart for wrestling. It took us everything we had to get here but we knew we had to come. I didn’t know about the book. It’s cool he found God and all.” As the line slowly got shorter, Jeffrey Housley, 23, patiently waited toward the end with his wife and several teenage boys. A Sunday School teacher at New Chapel Hill Baptist in West Monroe, Housley had been looking for a way to impact the boys who were … [Read more...]
‘They are good people doing really good work’
It is lunchtime, and folks have begun drifting into the Sheds’ modest home in Northwest Territories, Canada. (Note: Information for the following report on Baptist work in the far reaches of the Northwest Territories was gathered by Editor Lynn P. Clayton during a trip to the region earlier this year.) It is lunchtime, and folks have begun drifting into the Sheds’ modest home in Northwest Territories, Canada. Glenda Shed, the wife and mother, stands over the stove, dishing out spaghetti, caribou meat sauce and pleasant greetings to whomever arrives. Several children are eating around the table while other children and adults are scattered around the kitchen, enjoying the meal cooked from a Texas recipe. Laughter lightens the air, and a smile enhances each face as David, the husband and father, moves around the room. The setting is Rae-Edzo, a small town 3,300 miles north of Dallas, Texas, and just a couple of hundred miles from the Canadian Arctic Circle. Rae-Edzo sits six miles off Highway 3, which ends 70 miles away at Yellowknife, the last town headed north from civilization in south-central Northwest Territories. One has a difficult time finding the town on most maps of Canada. However, God … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of June 20, 2005 Guilty plea Two years after the death of Patrick Dennehy, his former Baylor University basketball teammate Carlton Dotson had pled guilty to his murder. Dotson, 22, surprised prosecutors and even his family by submitting an open plea – which carries no deal for leniency – just two days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial. Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison – and will not be eligible for parole until he has served 17 years. Dennehy disappeared from the Waco campus in June 2003. Six weeks later, his remains were found in a field a few miles from Baylor. On September 3, 2003, Dotson was indicted for murder. He spent two months in a mental hospital on a judge’s order. The motive behind the killing is still unknown. Dennehy’s death led to an investigation of the men’s basketball team and NCAA probation after investigators found that Baylor men’s coach Dave Bliss had given Dennehy and another team member tuition money and that drug use by some players had not been reported. Bliss and Athletic Director Tom Stanton ultimately resigned. Louisiana smoking Despite anti-smoking efforts, Louisiana continues to own one of the highest smoking rates in the nation. … [Read more...]
A change is in order
Baptist polity. That is the empty explanation offered by the Executive Board for disallowing local associations to decide who sits on the LBC Executive Board. RE: The recent decision by LBC Executive Board not to act on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow local associations to elect half of all Executive Board members. Baptist polity. That is the empty explanation offered by the Executive Board for disallowing local associations to decide who sits on the LBC Executive Board. This is a smoke screen, and every Lousiana Baptist that has witnessed the power struggle in our state convention knows it full well. Local associations deserve to have direct influence over who makes up the body that functions as the Louisiana Baptist Convention ad interim. But having this will be an uphill battle because the “power brokers” of our convention like it the way it is. The present system allows too small a group to control the nominating process. This present system also burdens the Nominating Committee with the daunting task of nominating committed and qualified persons from nearly 50 far-flung associations for consideration by the LBC annual meeting. Why not allow associations make these nominations? At least … [Read more...]
The tools are there – why are churches not growing?
Why are not Southern Baptist churches, as a general rule, growing? Why are not Southern Baptist churches, as a general rule, growing? Studies show that a majority of Southern Baptist churches either are on a membership plateau or are declining. Considering the incredible amount of material in print, on tape or on the Internet to give solid information and guidance in this area, one has to wonder why all churches are not growing. Whereas 30 years ago, a book on growing churches was a rarity, today, such books almost flood the market. And these are not off-the-cuff books. Most of them are written from serious, and sometimes vast, research. One example of an author who has produced some seven excellent, well-researched books on various aspects of growing churches and reaching people is Thom Rainer. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor is not alone. Others also have produced excellent books, generally from personal experience, on principles for growing churches. In addition, megachurch pastors such as Rick Warren and Bill Hybels not only produce practical church growth materials, but they have well-maintained, current Web sites providing all kinds of weekly help for churches that want to … [Read more...]
New Orleans ministry benefits from true ‘team’ effort
it is a beautiful Saturday morning in New Orleans – summer has not yet arrived full force, the sky is blue and the sun is warm. It is a beautiful Saturday morning in New Orleans – summer has not yet arrived full force, the sky is blue and the sun is warm. Outside the Baptist Friendship House near the French Quarter section of the city, Dan Wuerddan kneels in front of a basketball backboard he is assembling. A few minutes later, he climbs into the bed of his pickup truck and begins to attach the backboard to the basketball pole already in the ground. Wuerddan easily is tall enough for the job – he played for the St. John Red Storm, a major college basketball program. Now, he is a scout for the New Orleans Hornets professional basketball team. His ultimate goal is to coach. However, today, he assembles the basketball goal for someone else – children and youth who participate in Baptist Friendship House programs. His effort is just a part of an overall Hornets project at the New Orleans ministry. The team recently provided resources – and personnel – to renovate the ministry facility operated by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. By the time the project was completed in late … [Read more...]
Louisiana Legislature addresses gambling, school vouchers
As the 2005 session of the Louisiana Legislature neared its end, legislators rejected a bid to allow paddlewheel gambling out of New Orleans. As the 2005 session of the Louisiana Legislature neared its end, legislators rejected a bid to allow paddlewheel gambling out of New Orleans. The legislative session must end no later than Thursday at 6 p.m. At press time, several issues were still pending as legislators scrambled to pass bills. However, one push to expand gambling in the state appeared to have been derailed. House members had approved a measure to allow gambling on paddlewheel boats out of New Orleans. However, the measure failed to gain support in the Senate, where legislators voted 19-15 against it. The vote came after Gov. Kathleen Blanco made it clear she was against the move. A Blanco spokesperson testified against the bill in Senate committee, and the governor publicly voiced her hopes it would be rejected by the full Senate. Blanco has said throughout her term that she is opposed to any expansion of gambling in the state. At press time, there still was uncertainty about the measure, with supporters saying they may try for another push. However, time was running short. Meanwhile, … [Read more...]