NEW ORLEANS – About 600 people participated in the 2008 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, which took place Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church of New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS – About 600 people participated in the 2008 annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, which took place Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church of New Orleans.
In addition to motivating, encouraging and challenging messages, the 558 messengers and guests heard reports from each of the LBC ministry departments, each LBC affiliate agency, and SBC agencies.
Following are greatly condensed capsules of the department reports printed in the 2008 Book of Reports, which is available from the office of the LBC Executive Director, David E. Hankins.
Dwayne Monk is president of the LBC Executive Board, and a member of the board for the last five years.
“It has been a calm, sweet time of fellowship among Louisiana Baptists these last few years,” Monk wrote in the Executive Board report. The Executive Board completed 13 actions during the year, most related to monitoring the finances of the state convention.
The Executive Board’s three recommendations to the messengers all were passed unanimously and without discussion. These included associational representation on the board, amendment to the Shepherds Fund Trust, and next year’s $22.5 million budget. LBC’s assets total nearly $33.3 million.
The Administrative team reported the Dec. 31, 2007, retirement of Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director Carolyn Sterne, after 41 years of service.
“Strategic initiatives for the year included a continued emphasis on ‘Empowering Kingdom Growth-Louisiana ….,” Hankins reported. “Through the summer of 2008, over 140 churches have participated in EKG-LA.”
More than 250 people participated in the annual Associational Leadership Planning Conference, which took place in April at Kingsville Baptist Pineville.
Dale Lingenfelter, director of the Business and Information Services team, reported on the $1.9 million renovation of the Baptist Building, with $900,000 for HVAC replacement.
Mark Robinson, director of the Collegiate Ministries team, reported that 204 BCM students participated in summer mission projects in 2008. That’s up from an average of 90 a year for each of the previous five years, Robinson reported.
John Yeats, director of the Communications team reported than an average of 60,000 people visit the state convention’s website every month. “Today, through the videos at www.lbc.org, churches have the incredible opportunity to share with their people about the work of Louisiana Baptists on mission with God,” Yeats reported.
About 1,200 people attended the state Evangelism Conference last January, reported Wayne Jenkins, director of the Evangelism/Church Growth team. Evangelism Associate Keith Manuel led in the development of a six-week study: “One on One: Evangelism Made Simple” and in a website, www.whativaluemost.com, which enables believers to share their testimony using innovative technology. In addition, believers have begun to be trained to share their faith over the phone or internet.
Six regional Sunday school conferences took place across the state, and three churches piloted a Coaching Strategy that is now being rolled out in 50 churches statewide. The state VBS team led three clinics, attended by 288. In all, 283 children participated in Bible drills; 741 adults participated in Childhood Education Workshops at First Shreveport and NOBTS during 2008.
More than 4,100 teens and their sponsors attended the Youth Evangelism Conference in mid-November, 2007. That makes YEC the LBC’s largest ministry event. At least 200 decisions for salvation, rededication and missions service were recorded.
Mike Canady is director of the Missions and Ministries team, which includes men’s and women’s groups, disaster relief and construction missions, as well as starting churches. Regional church starting strategists helped start 26 mission congregations and ministry centers. More than 175 churches have identified themselves as Acts 1:8 congregations, simultaneously reaching out locally, regionally, nationally and globally to further the Kingdom of God.
Louisiana has more than 3,000 trained volunteers serving in 56 disaster relief units, reported Gibbie McMillan, men’s ministry/volunteer missions strategist. Louisiana responded to ice storms in Missouri and Oklahoma early in 2008. (Hurricanes Gustav and Ike came after the Book of Reports was printed.) More than 400 boys participated in RA Congress in March. Thousands of volunteer man-hours went into Louisiana Baptist Builders’ projects.
More than 200 participated in GA Camp; it was the first event led by new Children/Youth Mission Education Strategist Kimberly Williams. “Many” youngsters participated in the “first annual” Children’s Ministry Day. Women’s events including Kaleidoscope, WMU annual meeting, church leader training and a Minister’s Wives Retreat were led by Janie Wise.
Record-setting, goal-breaking giving was received for each of the three seasonal missions offerings
• $1,592,158.04 for Georgia Barnett State Missions Offering; goal was $1.5 million.
• $1,976,045.73 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions; goal was $1.95 million.
• $4,820,717.06 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions; goal was $4 million.
One more from Canady’s team: Four grants totaling $75,000 were given through the LBC Church Site Corp. to assist in purchasing property or mission church construction.
“The Pastoral Leadership Team seeks to be a friend to every staff person; a training resource for every staff member, and resource provider for every church,” reported Director Bill Robertson. Among this team’s ministries: crisis support, conflict coaching and financial assistance. Stacy Morgan was added mid-year as church administration strategist. Ministry to bivocational – fulltime plus a second job – pastors is led by Gary Mitchell.
Music is another major element of the Pastoral Leadership Team. During 2008, 13 keyboard festivals involving 700 participants took place. The 20th annual Children’s Honor Choir drew 83 youngsters; the 25th annual All-State Youth Choir drew 84. And more than 250 people participated in the 51st annual Louisiana Baptist Church Music conference. Randy Turner is LBC music strategist.
In addition to motivating, encouraging and challenging messages, the 558 messengers and guests heard reports from each of the LBC ministry departments, each LBC affiliate agency, and SBC agencies.
Following are greatly condensed capsules of the department reports printed in the 2008 Book of Reports, which is available from the office of the LBC Executive Director, David E. Hankins.
Dwayne Monk is president of the LBC Executive Board, and a member of the board for the last five years.
“It has been a calm, sweet time of fellowship among Louisiana Baptists these last few years,” Monk wrote in the Executive Board report. The Executive Board completed 13 actions during the year, most related to monitoring the finances of the state convention.
The Executive Board’s three recommendations to the messengers all were passed unanimously and without discussion. These included associational representation on the board, amendment to the Shepherds Fund Trust, and next year’s $22.5 million budget. LBC’s assets total nearly $33.3 million.
The Administrative team reported the Dec. 31, 2007, retirement of Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director Carolyn Sterne, after 41 years of service.
“Strategic initiatives for the year included a continued emphasis on ‘Empowering Kingdom Growth-Louisiana ….,” Hankins reported. “Through the summer of 2008, over 140 churches have participated in EKG-LA.”
More than 250 people participated in the annual Associational Leadership Planning Conference, which took place in April at Kingsville Baptist Pineville.
Dale Lingenfelter, director of the Business and Information Services team, reported on the $1.9 million renovation of the Baptist Building, with $900,000 for HVAC replacement.
Mark Robinson, director of the Collegiate Ministries team, reported that 204 BCM students participated in summer mission projects in 2008. That’s up from an average of 90 a year for each of the previous five years, Robinson reported.
John Yeats, director of the Communications team reported than an average of 60,000 people visit the state convention’s website every month. “Today, through the videos at www.lbc.org, churches have the incredible opportunity to share with their people about the work of Louisiana Baptists on mission with God,” Yeats reported.
About 1,200 people attended the state Evangelism Conference last January, reported Wayne Jenkins, director of the Evangelism/Church Growth team. Evangelism Associate Keith Manuel led in the development of a six-week study: “One on One: Evangelism Made Simple” and in a website, www.whativaluemost.com, which enables believers to share their testimony using innovative technology. In addition, believers have begun to be trained to share their faith over the phone or internet.
Six regional Sunday school conferences took place across the state, and three churches piloted a Coaching Strategy that is now being rolled out in 50 churches statewide. The state VBS team led three clinics, attended by 288. In all, 283 children participated in Bible drills; 741 adults participated in Childhood Education Workshops at First Shreveport and NOBTS during 2008.
More than 4,100 teens and their sponsors attended the Youth Evangelism Conference in mid-November, 2007. That makes YEC the LBC’s largest ministry event. At least 200 decisions for salvation, rededication and missions service were recorded.
Mike Canady is director of the Missions and Ministries team, which includes men’s and women’s groups, disaster relief and construction missions, as well as starting churches. Regional church starting strategists helped start 26 mission congregations and ministry centers. More than 175 churches have identified themselves as Acts 1:8 congregations, simultaneously reaching out locally, regionally, nationally and globally to further the Kingdom of God.
Louisiana has more than 3,000 trained volunteers serving in 56 disaster relief units, reported Gibbie McMillan, men’s ministry/volunteer missions strategist. Louisiana responded to ice storms in Missouri and Oklahoma early in 2008. (Hurricanes Gustav and Ike came after the Book of Reports was printed.) More than 400 boys participated in RA Congress in March. Thousands of volunteer man-hours went into Louisiana Baptist Builders’ projects.
More than 200 participated in GA Camp; it was the first event led by new Children/Youth Mission Education Strategist Kimberly Williams. “Many” youngsters participated in the “first annual” Children’s Ministry Day. Women’s events including Kaleidoscope, WMU annual meeting, church leader training and a Minister’s Wives Retreat were led by Janie Wise.
Record-setting, goal-breaking giving was received for each of the three seasonal missions offerings
• $1,592,158.04 for Georgia Barnett State Missions Offering; goal was $1.5 million.
• $1,976,045.73 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions; goal was $1.95 million.
• $4,820,717.06 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions; goal was $4 million.
One more from Canady’s team: Four grants totaling $75,000 were given through the LBC Church Site Corp. to assist in purchasing property or mission church construction.
“The Pastoral Leadership Team seeks to be a friend to every staff person; a training resource for every staff member, and resource provider for every church,” reported Director Bill Robertson. Among this team’s ministries: crisis support, conflict coaching and financial assistance. Stacy Morgan was added mid-year as church administration strategist. Ministry to bivocational – fulltime plus a second job – pastors is led by Gary Mitchell.
Music is another major element of the Pastoral Leadership Team. During 2008, 13 keyboard festivals involving 700 participants took place.
The 20th annual Children’s Honor Choir drew 83 youngsters; the 25th annual All-State Youth Choir drew 84. And more than 250 people participated in the 51st annual Louisiana Baptist Church Music conference. Randy Turner is LBC music strategist.