Submitted by philip on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 09:20 For the first time in its 25 year history, YEC was sold out before the doors of the Rapides Parish Coliseum even opened. The 7,567 in attendance shattered the previous record of 7,050 set in 2010. Featuring a powerful message from Clayton King and high-energy music from the band Skillet and worship leaders Jeff Johnson Band, illusionist Joshua Jordan, inspiring messages, testimonies, the Skit Guys and comedian Bob Smiley, the event resulted in 950 spiritual decisions. By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director ALEXANDRIA – In a year set aside for an awakening of Christ among Louisiana Baptists, hundreds of young people answered the call to accept and serve the Lord in record numbers. It was the highest-attended Youth Evangelism Conference ever. Celebrating its 25th year, YEC resulted in 7,567 in attendance and 950 who made decisions, including 398 who accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, 233 who re-committed to Jesus and 55 who indicated a call to ministry. “YEC 2012 shared the stories of those who have been marked by Christ, specifically at YEC, and celebrated what God has done in their lives,” said Kevin Boles, Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 09:26 Robert Spicer, team leader of Crossover Events for Northeast Association, witnesses to a teen at Real Encounter event By Robert Lemoine, Regional Reporter OUACHITA PARISH – Northeast Louisiana Southern Baptists saturated their area repeatedly for four months with the Word of God. Many events across the parish offered fellowship and evangelism to the communities under the anticipation of Crossover this year. Things took place differently this year as compared to years past. Historically, most of the events leading to Crossover take place the weekend before the annual meeting, which took place this year Nov. 12-13 at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. This year, the community outreach started about four months in advance and covered a wide area. “The block parties were spread out over time to allow more churches to participate,” said Bodie Spicer, Pastor of Cheniere Baptist in West Monroe and Evangelism Team Chairman of Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association. “However, the real outreach for Crossover was achieved by door-to-door evangelism in the surrounding communities the weekend prior to the annual meeting.” During the four months previous, … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor Political pundits, social commentators and even theologians continue to debate what the most recent election results actually indicate about America. However, one reality that seems evident is that just over half of the registered voters in the United States are in favor of a more secular culture. The morning of Nov. 7, we learned that Americans had rejected traditional values, anchored in the principles espoused by the Bible, in favor of homosexual marriage, recreational drug use and candidates who seem enamored by socialist ideas. Some seem shocked at the election results. However, America’s slow slide toward secularism has been taking place for some time now. I would argue that for at least three decades the Christmas season has been a clear indicator of our country’s penchant for secular style over traditional substance. The essence of Christmas, the reason for the season as it were, is the birth of Jesus Christ, nothing more and nothing less. It is distinctly and exclusively a religious holiday; a time when Christians around the world commemorate the birth of their savior, the very reason for their faith. However, in American popular culture the reality of Christmas has not just … [Read more...]

By Jim Law, Pastor, First Baptist Gonzales I have always been fascinated how engineers can bring down old, unwanted buildings in the middle of a city skyline with relatively little damage to the surrounding area. One thing is for sure in a building demolition project, the engineers are not haphazard in the placement of the explosives. They want the building to implode, not explode. The goal of the engineers is to have the building collapse and fall straight down, as opposed to an explosion that would send shrapnel out into the city. “Implosion” is a violent collapse inward, a violent compression, and it is the method of choice when it comes to the demolition of abandoned buildings. However, the word “implosion” has also become a cultural term used to describe someone who has lost control. A boss who goes on a tirade, a coach who goes on a rant, or a politician whose campaign has lost traction all could be described in popular vernacular as implosions. I believe such an understanding within the context of God’s people could describe a condition of the soul called spiritual implosion. Spiritual implosion could be understood as a professing believer, one who once had a seemingly vibrant walk with Jesus Christ, … [Read more...]

By Chuck Bentley, CEO, Crown Financial Ministries As you consider the gifts you will share with friends and loved ones at Christmas, I recommend that you con­sider giving gifts that will ultimately be more precious than gold. Maybe we can call this the Biblical Gift Guide for the Holiday Season: 1. GIVE FROM WHAT YOU DO HAVE Remember when the beg­gar outside the temple gate in Jerusalem asked Peter and John for money? Although he was crippled from birth, the beggar was focused on money as the solution to his problem. This story is a picture of the superiority of the treasures we have in knowing Christ. Peter understood this perfectly well. His reply to the beggar should ring in our ears: Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk’ – Acts 3:6. And the crippled man walked! Imagine that electrifying moment. God did not send Peter and John on a mission to give away money. He sent them on a mission to give away Jesus. This year, you may not be in a position to give gifts that people are ex­pecting from you; but this can be your opportunity, like Peter and John, to give from what “you do have.” We have the glorious treasure of the Gospel that gives … [Read more...]

By Ronnie Floyd, Senior Pastor, Cross Church Arkansas  Imagine what your life would look like if you only committed 2.56 percent of yourself to the things you do. How healthy would your marriage be if you told your spouse, “I love you with 2.56 percent of my heart”? Where would your career be if you performed at only 2.56 percent of your capability? We wouldn’t dream of doing such things. However, a Chris­tian research organization has discovered this is exactly the attitude the average Christian has when it comes to financing the work of the church. A study conducted by Empty Tomb, Inc., located in Cham­pagne, Ill., revealed the average church member only gives an estimated 2.56% of his or her income to any church or charity. We can’t accomplish the massive goals of telling every person in the world about Jesus and making disciples of all nations with such miniscule giv­ing. While it is true that much of the problem is the sin of greediness in the lives of average church members, it also could be the case that our lack of sacrificial giving is the result of disor­ganization. That’s why there is a great need for Christians to begin to evaluate everything financially. Here are four steps each of us can take to begin meeting … [Read more...]

 I don’t know if it is the same for you, but I have found that the Lord quite often uses the holiday season to convict me. In his grace and wisdom, God sees fit to use the time-honored tra­dition of bringing the most eccentric and peculiar people together under one roof in the name of family to, as Paul says, conform me to the image of his Son – Romans 8:29. The Lord also providentially uses the holidays and its stresses of pack­ing cars, driving across country (in traffic), answering the “are we there yet” question 152 times to remind me that my hope only comes from him – along with my forgiveness. These trip troubles, relational stresses, and materialistic cravings that so often accompany this season remind us of where our hearts are not, and where our hearts should be. I am sure we all feel it; maybe some of us have even said it: “Thanksgiving should not only be a holiday; it should be an atti­tude that defines us as believers.” Giving thanks is what we should be doing every week, every day, every hour. Yet, even with such laudable thoughts in mind, it was not always gratitude that filled my heart but rather a short temper and a slow, steady burn caused by the stresses at hand and, if completely honest, the exorbitant … [Read more...]