Focused on reaching people with a Western style, Open Gate Western Heritage Church uses hayrides, trail rides, and rodeos to reach people. Focused on reaching people with a Western style, Open Gate Western Heritage Church uses hayrides, trail rides, and rodeos to reach people.  Pastor Mark Stagg baptizes a new church member in a horse trough. While they are meeting in the cafeteria at Fairview Elementary in Lake Charles, the church recently purchased property with the prospect of  building soon.   … [Read more...]

While almost two-thirds of Southern Baptist pastors have preached on stewardship in the past year, a new study shows that few of those pastors believe members of their congregation have a significant amount of debt – revealing a serious disconnect with the realities of American family life. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While almost two-thirds of Southern Baptist pastors have preached on stewardship in the past year, a new study shows that few of those pastors believe members of their congregation have a significant amount of debt – revealing a serious disconnect with the realities of American family life. The survey of 3,500 Southern Baptist senior pastors was conducted by LifeWay Research on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention between November 2007 and February 2008. The study revealed that 65 percent of pastors had preached on financial stewardship during the previous year but only 25 percent said their church members have “a significant amount of personal debt.” That stands in stark contrast to national statistics about the debt load American families are carrying, said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. “In 2006, household debt in America grew by $1.2 trillion – a … [Read more...]

New Hope Publishers is to produce a missional fiction line beginning winter 2010 by author Kathi Macias. Birmingham, Ala.  – New Hope Publishers is to produce a missional fiction line beginning winter 2010 by author Kathi Macias. Award-winning author Kathi Macias has written more than 17 books, including Beyond Me, the best-selling devotional A Moment a Day, and the popular “Matthews” mystery novels.  “I’ve known that New Hope would someday extend our mission through fiction that takes readers to where God is at work in our world,” says New Hope’s publisher, Andrea Mullins. “Kathi Macias shares our desire to challenge readers to live out God’s love in the world. Her series, ‘Extreme Devotion,’ will be our first series that I describe as missional fiction. Her powerful story telling will transform readers’ attitudes and actions in a world that needs courageous commitment to Christ.”  The series, titled “Extreme Devotion,” will contain four books: Book One: No Greater Love (South Africa) Book Two: More Than Conquerors (Chiapas, Mexico) Book Three: Red Ink (China)       Book Four: People of the Book (Saudi Arabia)  “Writing the ‘Extreme Devotion’ series has long been a dream of mine,” says Kathi Macias. “I … [Read more...]

In remarks to some 250 staff members of the North American Mission Board on Jan. 8, President Geoff Hammond asked NAMB team leaders to operate at 90 percent of their approved budgets during 2009. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – In remarks to some 250 staff members of the North American Mission Board on Jan. 8, President Geoff Hammond asked NAMB team leaders to operate at 90 percent of their approved budgets during 2009. However, Hammond said funds committed to God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS), the denomination-wide evangelism emphasis, would not be affected. State cooperative budgets also will not be subject to the 90 percent spending level but will operate according to normal state funding practices. Carlos Ferrer, NAMB’s chief financial officer, said in comments to Baptist Press, “In light of continuing economic trends, the North American Mission Board leadership believes good stewardship requires that we be proactive in planning for potential changes in revenue during 2009.” In addition to the 90 percent spending level, Ferrer said NAMB also would evaluate and monitor closely hiring for any staff vacancies. “While there is no hiring freeze, it is appropriate to fill vacancies wisely,” Ferrer said. “We praise God for the … [Read more...]

Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program are 4.97 percent behind the same time frame at the outset of 2008, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program are 4.97 percent behind the same time frame at the outset of 2008, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman. As of Dec. 31, the year-to-date total of $47,257,976.70 for Cooperative Program (CP) missions is $2,473,746.72 below the $49,731,723.42 received at the same point a year earlier. For the month, receipts of $14,073,778.90 were 14.67 percent, or $2,419,957.36, below the $16,493,736.26 received in December 2007. Designated giving of $11,000,512.35 for the same year-to-date period is 4.03 percent, or $461,579.91, below gifts of $11,462,092.26 received at this point last year. The $3,335,204.76 in designated gifts received last month is $1,340,441.20 below the $4,675,645.96 received in December 2007, a decrease of 28.67 percent. For the SBC Cooperative Program … [Read more...]

TALLADEGA, Ala. (BP) – Despite last year’s economic downturn, Southern Baptists still contributed more than $58 million to the annual Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in 2008 – 98 percent of the amount raised in the previous year’s campaign. North American Mission Board President Geoff Hammond announced the unaudited results of the offering Jan. 12 at a meeting of some 100 national and state leaders of Woman’s Missionary Union at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega, Ala. “It’s been a tough year,” Hammond told the WMU leaders. “We knew we were in a recession and the economists didn’t confirm it until September. But it was going on all year. We were raising Annie Armstrong funds in the middle of $4-a-gallon gasoline prices. “To raise $58 million in a recession was a miracle and we praise God for that,” Hammond said. “While Annie was down about 2.2 percent over last year, the fundraising of many charitable organizations was down 10 percent or more. “We praise God for the faithfulness of His people in giving to cooperative missions and to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in 2008,” Hammond said. “We rejoice at the sustained giving of Southern Baptists.” Presenting a large thank you board signed by … [Read more...]

While America entered the decade of the 1960s with an ever-burgeoning mindset of free love and resistance to institutional authority, a countervailing subculture was growing by leaps and bounds. While America entered the decade of the 1960s with an ever-burgeoning mindset of free love and resistance to institutional authority, a countervailing subculture was growing by leaps and bounds. During this time in American history, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) boasted extraordinary growth among young people noted for their participation in the various mission education programs of the denomination. Little more than a century old, the SBC was emerging as a mighty engine for missions fueling the growth of an international missionary force, the likes of which the world had seldom seen. Even during turbulent national experiences, the SBC exemplified a vibrant counter-resurgence to the fraying of American culture with an intentional emphasis on figures such as Lottie Moon and the scores of missionaries risking their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ. No one signified missionary outreach quite like Rebekah Naylor. She reignited a missionary mindset that impelled new horizons of mission work to emerge from people who … [Read more...]