Southern Baptists are continuing to provide desperately needed relief to families suffering in Zimbabwe’s unprecedented economic disaster. HARARE, Zimbabwe (BP) – Southern Baptists are continuing to provide desperately needed relief to families suffering in Zimbabwe’s unprecedented economic disaster. “The current unemployment rate is reported to be 94 percent and the annual inflation rate was estimated this past October at 2 trillion percent,” said Mark Hatfield, who with his wife Susan directs work in Sub-Saharan Africa for Baptist Global Response, an international relief and development organization. “One expert put the rate in December at 516 quintillion percent – the highest ever recorded.” The country’s new national unity government emerged from a weekend retreat April 6 with a visionary 100-day plan to bring Zimbabwe out of its downward spiral. The agenda focuses on five “clusters” – the economy, security, infrastructure, social services, and interests and rights. The challenge they face, however, staggers the imagination, Hatfield said. The only goods available in stores are priced in foreign currency that ordinary citizens do not have. Those who do have some money in the bank are limited to withdrawals too … [Read more...]

Can I still trust a God who lets the worst tragedy happen? LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Can I still trust a God who lets the worst tragedy happen? For most Christians, that question has to be answered only in theory. But for three graduates of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, it recently became terrifyingly real. Todd Borger, Greg Bruckert and Ron McLain were all serving overseas when their children died suddenly within the last year. Through the tragedies, however, they and their wives committed to remain faithful in their service to Christ. Todd and Timberley Borger were serving in the Pacific Rim, where Todd, a 2002 Ph.D. graduate, taught Old Testament and Bible at a Baptist seminary. On the field, their children Samuel, 11, and Anna, 9, worked with them to penetrate the culture with the Gospel. But in May 2008 the unthinkable happened. Anna and her mother were riding bicycles when they accidentally became separated. Anna then approached a bridge over a creek, but she missed the bridge and plummeted 30 feet into a ravine and died on impact. “All of the memories I have of Anna are fond memories,” said Todd Borger, who serves currently as Pacific Rim visiting professor of missions at Southern. “They’re all good … [Read more...]

Ask 801 Southern Baptist pastors to name the critical ministries of their churches and their responses will vary by church size, according to an online survey from LifeWay Research. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Ask 801 Southern Baptist pastors to name the critical ministries of their churches and their responses will vary by church size, according to an online survey from LifeWay Research. The online study, titled “Critical Ministries and Their Leadership,” asked the pastors to identify their priorities in ministry and the challenges they face in finding effective leadership for key ministries. When pastors of all sizes of churches were asked to list up to five ministries in their order of importance, the largest group (24 percent) identified evangelism/outreach as the most important. The next six ministries identified as most important were Sunday School/Bible study/small groups (17 percent); worship/specific worship services (13 percent); preaching/proclamation/preaching (10 percent); children/youth (9 percent); discipleship/spiritual growth/mentoring/counseling (7 percent); and prayer/prayer ministry/prayer groups (5 percent). However, when the five most frequently mentioned ministries were compiled, children/youth … [Read more...]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board has appointed two new missionaries in Louisiana. Jerrid and Tammy Rohner will serve in Roseland, La., where Jerrid has been named as a church planting missionary pastor.  He will continue to serve as lead pastor/planter at Cross-Point Church in Roseland.  He is also owner of R & R Lawn Care in Roseland. A Roseland native, Rohner earned a B.A. in Christian Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans. The Rohners are the parents of two children: Carla, 17, and Devin, 11.   … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS -Mark (wife Alexis) Isbell new as youth minister, First Baptist, Coushatta. NEEDED -Part-time youth minister at St. Clair Baptist; send resume to 940 St. Clair Rd., Boyce, LA 71409 or e-mail pwillis@stclairbaptist.org. -Pastor at Pineville Park Baptist; send resume to Pastor Search Committee, Pineville Park Baptist Church, 22455 Hwy. 28E, Pineville LA 71360. -Part-time minister of youth. Send resumes or inquiries to Pineville Park Baptist Church, Youth Search Committee, 2455 Hwy. 28E, Pineville LA 71360 or to tom.lott@pinevillepark.org. -Full-time pastor at Martin Baptist, Martin; send resume to Brandon Hillman, 3160 Hwy. 507, Coushatta LA 71019; send email to bhillman1744@yahoo.com. This corrects email address that was posted in the April 16 issue. The Message apologizes for the error. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS -MINDEN – Emmanuel Baptist: 50th Anniversary Celebration 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 3; Matthew Cate, pastor. -PINEVILLE – Wardville Baptist: 65th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration 9:45 a.m. Sunday, May 17; Pine Ridge Quartet in Concert; 10:45 a.m. worship service; Terry Horowitz, pastor. REVIVALS -GILBERT – First Baptist: Revival 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, May 3-6. … [Read more...]

In 2002, two couples at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Fla., took a step of faith as they established a motorcycle ministry called F.A.I.T.H. Riders. LIBUSE – In 2002, two couples at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Fla., took a step of faith as they established a motorcycle ministry called F.A.I.T.H. Riders. It just seven short years, the ministry has grown and spread across the country as teams of dedicated believers commit to the cause of Christ and to sharing the Gospel on and with their motorcycles to any who will listen.  The ministry has expanded to more than 70 churches, with more chapters getting ready to be born across the United States – chapters of motorcycle riders and others passionate about sharing F.A.I.T.H. through Christian fellowship. On May 3, the ministry expands into Louisiana with an evening commissioning service at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Libuse. “I’m excited about a new ministry that God is allowing us to be a part of. We will have the privilege of commissioning the first F.A.I.T.H. Riders chapter in Louisiana,” said Dwayne Rogers, pastor of Pine Grove Baptist. “This is a wonderful evangelistic motorcycle ministry. One of the main differences between … [Read more...]

Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans METAIRIE – In the first quarter of 2009,  the Celebration congregation has: -Had its weekend worship attendance grow by 10 percent, even though the church had to deal with challenges like Mardi Gras, time-change weekend, Spring festivals in the region, and more; -Received 184 new membership candidates into the Celebration family; -Had an additional 206 people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ; -Had hundreds of teens participating in midweek youth services and school Life Groups; -Experienced an upswing in member/attendee giving during the worst economic recession in the United States in the last 70 years; -Had a number of newer people commit to giving above their tithe to support our A City Transformed:  Investing In Eternity projects; and -Witnessed a significant number of people becoming leaders and strong disciples of Jesus. Also, Celebration’s Easter attendance in 2009 included more than 1,100 more people than the number who attended the 2008 Easter services, more than 3,300 in all, at all campuses combined. Celebration is finally ready to begin the rebuild of the Airline Drive Campus, Pastor Dennis Watson reports. “Devastated by the waters of … [Read more...]

Preparations for the upcoming 25th annual missions trip to Brazil are well underway. ALEXANDRIA – Preparations for the upcoming 25th annual missions trip to Brazil are well underway. The July 10-23 trip is hosted by Wayne Jenkins, Louisiana Baptist Convention’s evangelism and church growth director. The destination again this year is Belo Horizonte, capital city in the state of Minas Gerais. At least 160 people are needed for the two-week, multi-ministry mission trip that includes preaching, visiting, basketball, prison and street witnessing, vacation Bible school, drama, music, dentistry, medicine, construction and more. “Money for the worm medicine is in hand,” Jenkins said. What costs $8/dose in the U.S. costs $1/dose in Brazil, so money is collected for the anticipated number of doses that will be needed, he explained. “Two [church] buildings are basically covered,” Jenkins continued. Leaders in the Brazilian National Baptist Convention have requested that three cinderblock churches be built this year, at a cost of about $10,000 per church for materials. “Two professional brick masons’ way has been paid to facilitate quality construction,” Jenkins’ said. “We need another building and another brick mason’s way … [Read more...]

Despite the dark times of the current economic recession, Louisiana College continues to hold steady financially. PINEVILLE – Despite the dark times of the current economic recession, Louisiana College continues to hold steady financially. “Louisiana College has been adversely affected by the recession just like every other higher education institution in the country,” President Joe Aguillard said, “but perhaps not to the degree that many other schools have been touched.” Aguillard pointed out that Louisiana College has a $28 million dollar endowment, which benefits some of its scholarship and academic programs. While the market has adversely affected Louisiana College’s endowments, other revenue sources have allowed Louisiana College to avoid the massive cuts and layoffs that are occurring at other institutions, the president said. Aguillard also addressed possible cost and building issues for Louisiana College. “As the financial situation continues to unfold, we will closely watch how the financial climate may affect our donors and students,” Aguillard said. As LC addresses future needs in capital outlay projects such as classrooms, the economy can sometimes work to one’s advantage, Aguillard said. “With … [Read more...]

Question:  Fortune tellers, tarot cards, ouija boards, palm readers, and other spiritists offer to inform people of the future. Is this possible, that such devices or mediums (aka modern-day false prophets) could actually provide accurate information or predictions about future events? Doesn’t the Bible teach that everything spoken by a false prophet would not come to pass? Do false prophets ever accurately predict future events?  Archie England answers: The Bible clearly recognizes the existence of this “other realm of spirituality.” In fact, it explicitly condemns both the practitioners and their clients (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,27; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:3,7,9; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; 1 Chronicles 10:13; 2 Chronicles 33:6; and Isaiah 8:19; 19:3) and places both under the penalty of death. Engaging in these black arts or the occult, in any way, incurs the judgment and wrath of God. But what if someone of that forbidden realm (say, Nostradamus) made some accurate, credible predictions?  Read on.... Deuteronomy 18:18 established the task of a true prophet of God, and it certainly entailed more than just predicting the future accurately. True prophets could only speak God’s words – and all of God’s words had to be … [Read more...]