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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

James McCracken visits Pineville VA Medical Center Nursing Home

James (J.J.) McCracken, a fifth grade student from Tioga Elementary, hands Beach Jones, a shut-in and World War II veteran, gift socks as part of a community service project he took part in. James (J.J.) McCracken, a fifth grade student from Tioga Elementary, hands Beach Jones, a shut-in and World War II veteran, gift socks as part of a community service project he took part in. J.J. also visited the local Pineville VA Medical Center Nursing Home, where gifts of socks and sock hats were also given to the veterans. The gifts he distributed were donated by members of Homewood Baptist Church of Alexandria. James is the grandson of Dewey and Geraldine Millard of Tioga.   … [Read more...]

Lt. Commander Jeff Giles stands on a snow-covered hillside in Iraq

Giles penned a poem describing the conditions and the feelings being endured by our men and women overseas during the Christmas season. Lt. Commander Jeff Giles [USN] of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment stands in the snow on a hillside at  Al Taqqadum, Iraq. Giles penned a poem describing the conditions and the feelings being endured by our men and women overseas during the Christmas season.   … [Read more...]

Milestones

NEEDED Part-time Children’s Ministry Intern needed at First Baptist, Covington; contact Kelley James 985.892.2149. AVAILABLE Choir robes to be given away; 60 plus assorted colors; call Memorial Baptist, Bogalusa 985.735.8880. ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS JONESVILLE – First Baptist: Retirement reception for Marshall Douglas, pastor, and wife Teresa 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28. CHURCH AND ASSOCIATION EVENTS BOYCE – St. Clair Baptist: The Greenes in concert 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; love offering and refreshments; for information call 318.542.6352 or 318.277.6993; Patrick Willis, pastor. CLINTON – Bluff Creek Baptist: The Greenes in concert 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10; love offering; Jay Avance, pastor. MINDEN – First Baptist: “Where Will You Be When Reality Strikes? Last Chance” multi-media event 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11; 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13; Wayne DuBose, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Woodlawn Baptist: Boat Regatta 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11; Tommy G. Middleton, pastor. DEVILLE - Philadelphia Baptist: True Woman’s Retreat Friday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Jan. 17; Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Mary Kassian, speakers; Tracy Orr, worship leader; Philip Robertson, pastor. MANY – First Baptist: Sermon … [Read more...]

Good Shepherd draws Mongolian herders

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (BP) – It took Daniel White and his family about a week to reach their new home in the Mongolian countryside. They traveled in a four-wheel vehicle, bypassing sheep and goat herds, to haul family possessions to this remote spot. He selected an adobe-walled plot in a small town for their home – price tag: $500. Over the next few weeks, he and his wife, Allison, and their daughter, Mandy, built an outhouse, located a water source and commissioned the building of a family ger, a round, white house made of felt stretched over a wooden frame. When their nomadic Mongolian neighbors returned that fall, they took note of the Whites’ move into the area. In beginner’s Mongolian, the Whites quelled suspicions over their rumored status as Russian spies. Moving to the Mongolian countryside was the answer to Daniel’s question – “What’s the hardest job nobody wants to do?” Mongolia team leader Jeffrey Dawes answered: Nomads. “As a believer, I’ve always been called to the edge,” Daniel said. “This is a very joyful place to be. It’s a hard place. If you make a mistake, you pay for it. But we’re where we’re called to be.” Aerial views of this rural area justify Mongolia’s reputation as the least densely … [Read more...]

Bible movie shows Mongolians the Gospel

In an Ulaanbaatar conference room, five Mongolian men ages 26 to 57 sit around a table, fanned out like spokes of a wheel. One is a former Buddhist artist. Another served as an army officer for 26 years. ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (BP) – In an Ulaanbaatar conference room, five Mongolian men ages 26 to 57 sit around a table, fanned out like spokes of a wheel. One is a former Buddhist artist. Another served as an army officer for 26 years. Along one wall is a map of Mongolia with pinned-on yellow triangles. The plain ones stand for ministry sites visited. The 10 with an adorning cross represent new, indigenous churches. Lines partition the Mongolian region into five slices – one for each of the men gathered around the table. For two years, these men have traveled the countryside together, bringing the Gospel to isolated, nomadic communities. Now they will ride out separately, each carrying the Good News to an outlined region. These are the men of Steppe-by-Steppe (named after Mongolian prairielands, called steppes). Each month these believers travel to the outlying areas of Mongolia, showing Bible movies and discipling believers to establish churches and strengthen existing ones. Under the discipleship of Southern Baptist … [Read more...]

Living Like A Missionary: Jane Hinrichs

Jane Hinrichs has a passion for Jesus and a calling to the ministry God has entrusted to her. BLUNT, S.D. – Jane Hinrichs has a passion for Jesus and a calling to the ministry God has entrusted to her. Jane says she would gladly serve God in any capacity in any place, but He has called her to be a wife to Shannon and a mom to Ryan, Cheyenne, Hawken, Magdalena, and Peter in Blunt, S.D. She is living like a missionary. “I’d love to go to Africa,” she says, “but God has called me to ministry to my family.” Jane met Jesus when she was a young college student; He became the central focus of her life. She did go to Africa after that, as an Army journalist, and it was there beneath the sparkling Somalian stars that she met her husband Shannon, who was an Army interrogator. Upon their return to the States, they married, and now have five children. He’s now a state trooper with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Having a family has deepened and increased her faith, Jane says. “I depend on Him so much more,” she explains. “I understand more about how God is our Father – His dedication and commitment.” The Hinrichs have Ryan, 13, Cheyenne, 11, Hawken, 9, and Magdalena and Peter, who are 7. She lifts each one up in prayer … [Read more...]

Crossover ’09 to highlight N.O. diverse culture

The diverse culture that makes New Orleans so unique will be utilized to the fullest this weekend as hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers from across the city – from across Louisiana – head to the Crescent City to participate in Crossover 2009. NEW ORLEANS – The diverse culture that makes New Orleans so unique will be utilized to the fullest this weekend as hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers from across the city – from across Louisiana – head to the Crescent City to participate in Crossover 2009. Beginning tomorrow and going through Saturday, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans will undertake the biggest evangelistic outreach effort it has ever attempted in the city. While Crossover is more than 20 years old nationally, the Louisiana Baptist Convention began the tradition of conducting an evangelistic emphasis – sharing the love of Christ – prior to its annual meeting in the host city two years ago in Lake Charles. This year’s theme is Recovering, Restoring, Reconciling. “It is without question the biggest evangelistic outreach our association has ever under taken,” BAGNO Evangelism Strategist David Rhymes said. “And it will be unique in terms of its size, scope and strategic focus.” Rhymes and … [Read more...]

Baptist Crossroads sets new goal for Upper Ninth Ward

Baptist Crossroads, the community redevelopment organization birthed by First Baptist Church of New Orleans just prior to Hurricane Katrina, is expanding its strategy to work alongside residents of the Upper Ninth Ward to revitalize this historic community. NEW ORLEANS – Baptist Crossroads, the community redevelopment organization birthed by First Baptist Church of New Orleans just prior to Hurricane Katrina, is expanding its strategy to work alongside residents of the Upper Ninth Ward to revitalize this historic community. “Baptist Crossroads partnered from the beginning with Habitat for Humanity and Baptist Community Ministries to build 40 affordable homes for qualified, low-income residents between 2006-2007; they since have completed a total of 48 homes and have 17 more in various stages of construction. “However, for a community to flourish, it needs to have more than one type of housing,” said Baptist Crossroads Executive Director Bob Brian. “Currently, we are exploring the possibility of a mixed-income model for our housing development. Research and experience confirm that when housing in a neighborhood better reflects social diversity, the community flourishes and becomes more economically sustainable.” That’s … [Read more...]

President Mike Holloway calls for unity, passion

Somehow, Dr. Mike Holloway finds time to pastor Cook Baptist Church in addition to all the hours he gives to all Louisiana Baptists as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. RUSTON – Somehow, Dr. Mike Holloway finds time to pastor Cook Baptist Church in addition to all the hours he gives to all Louisiana Baptists as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Elected last November to the first term of what at a maximum could be two, 2-year terms, Holloway spends hours each week in a variety of committee and trustee meetings for the LBC and its entities – Children’s Home, College, Foundation and the Louisiana Baptist Message – as well as the SBC entities – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, International and North American Mission Boards, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and LifeWay Christian Resources. “It was months before I realized I didn’t have to attend all the meetings,” Holloway said with a grin. “When I have a conflict, I send one of the other officers, but I try to make as many as I can.” Holloway said he also tries to be – and is, most weeks – in his pulpit every Sunday morning. His congregation seems to understand. “I think it … [Read more...]

Sharing peace with New Orleans and the world

We are having some work done on our house. Most of us have experienced people working or staying in our homes for an extended period of time. The guys who are working are doing a great job and they clean up after themselves, but do you know how much noise jackhammers and saws make? Or how about the constant pounding of a hammer and nail gun and the air compressor? Or how flat Bubba is when he whistles while he works? We are having some work done on our house. Most of us have experienced people working or staying in our homes for an extended period of time. The guys who are working are doing a great job and they clean up after themselves, but do you know how much noise jackhammers and saws make? Or how about the constant pounding of a hammer and nail gun and the air compressor? Or how flat Bubba is when he whistles while he works? So when the last workman exits and his pickup rolls out of the cul-de-sac, I want to collapse in my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and say “Praise the Lord. Patty, listen – this is what peace and quiet sounds like.” Peace and quiet. Our natural tendency is to link the two concepts together and equate peace with the absence of noise or the cessation of activity. When we unpack the words of … [Read more...]