The summer of 2008 will long be remembered in Cedar Rapids both for the 500-year flood that swamped the Iowa city and for the flood of compassion and cooperation provided by Southern Baptist churches across the country. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (BP) – The summer of 2008 will long be remembered in Cedar Rapids both for the 500-year flood that swamped the Iowa city and for the flood of compassion and cooperation provided by Southern Baptist churches across the country. “This past summer was extraordinary,” said Dan Wiersema, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, where about 130 people attend Sunday morning worship. “Our parking lot became the official disaster relief site for feeding units and mud-out units. Volunteers assisted by our members prepared more than 120,000 meals. We slept as many as 60 in our facilities, and teams from several states completed mud-out jobs for 50 home-owners in an area less than a mile from our church. “This [flood] definitely was an object lesson for the Cooperative Program,” Wiersema noted. “We were greatly blessed, our community was greatly blessed and church members could see in a fresh way the cooperative efforts of Southern Baptists and the blessings that flowed from that.” Today the church is … [Read more...]

“Thank you” may not be the most profound thing you will hear or speak today. The person you direct those words to – let’s be honest – will not find them the most rewarding of utterances they receive throughout the day. In our society, they’re rather routine. “Thank you” may not be the most profound thing you will hear or speak today. The person you direct those words to – let’s be honest – will not find them the most rewarding of utterances they receive throughout the day. In our society, they’re rather routine. However, and this is what keeps us coming back to reminding ourselves to give thanks, the absence of those two words creates a deafening silence that may wound good people who have served well. Thanksgiving can be trite or it can be a treasure. How we give it, the way we speak it, the smile on our countenance, and the sincerity in our voice, these infuse it with authenticity or diminish its worth. Though I have the gift of eloquence and can move great audiences with the force of my words and have not thanks, I am become a self-righteous prig and an insufferable elitist. Though I give the gift of great sacrifice and cause institutions to erect buildings in my honor and have not thanks for what others gave to … [Read more...]

Mississippi Baptists have finished filling the Memorial to the Missing with 50 million pennies, but no one is celebrating the milestone. JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Baptists have finished filling the Memorial to the Missing with 50 million pennies, but no one is celebrating the milestone. That’s because each penny inside the Memorial, located on the grounds of the Baptist Building in Jackson, represents a child who has been killed since the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 legalized abortion nationwide during the entire nine months of pregnancy. Jimmy Porter, executive director of the Mississippi Baptist Christian Action Commission, announced at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Oct. 28-29 at First Church, Jackson, that the two-and-a-half year campaign to memorialize all the lives that have been lost to legalized abortion in America has been completed. “The sad part is, the abortion toll in this country has gone well over 50 million since we began the Memorial. While the Memorial cannot hold any more pennies, the abortions continue,” Porter said. “I want to thank the churches for their involvement and for bringing their pennies to the Memorial. They were faithful to see this project through to … [Read more...]

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 … [Read more...]

Two couples from Louisiana were among the 105 people appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board during a recent commissioning service at First Baptist Church of Houston.  HOUSTON (BP) – Two couples from Louisiana were among the 105 people appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board during a recent commissioning service at First Baptist Church of Houston. Ian and Katie Brou, and Carrie and Shannon Lewis were among those appointed during the Nov. 11 service, which brings the total of Southern Baptist Missionaries serving overseas to 5,541. The Houston group was the third-largest  number appointed since at least 1980. IMB President Jerry Rankin closed out the trustee meeting that was concurrent with the appointment service by asking trustees to sign a large globe as a symbol of their commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission. “A thrilling aspect of our work over the years has been to see the attitude of our missionaries who started using the expression ‘wigtake,’” Rankin said. “When faced with a challenging assignment or danger or formidable task, they respond with that expression – witake – whatever it’s going to take.” … [Read more...]

At least 200 Southern Baptist Convention-endorsed military chaplains will be pleasantly surprised with a box of Christmas goodies by Dec. 25. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – At least 200 Southern Baptist Convention-endorsed military chaplains will be pleasantly surprised with a box of Christmas goodies by Dec. 25. Chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan will receive boxes of candy, instant coffee and hot chocolate, powdered soft drinks, snacks, CDs, books and magazines, toiletries, batteries, pre-paid phone cards, socks, boot laces, sunglasses and even small Christmas trees and decorations. Some 100 North American Mission Board employees and members of several Atlanta-area Baptist churches collected and boxed the items as a “symbol of love” for the chaplains, said Keith Travis, team leader of NAMB’s chaplaincy evangelism team in Alpharetta, Ga. Travis initiated the project because he “felt like we needed to do something to let the chaplains know we’re thinking of them at the holidays because the chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan are doing such a great job over there. Other than this, all we can do for them is pray. “These chaplains are serving on the front lines as pastors for our soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines,” Travis … [Read more...]

Thank you. Thank you. Two words that indicate recognition and express appreciation of a kindness received from a source outside of ourselves. Thus it was in 1621 that the Pilgrims took time out from the busy task of survival to offer a “thank you” to the ultimate outside source – God. While I am sure they were appreciative to the natives who had befriended them, the first English settlers – in what would come to be known as America – paused for several days of feasting, reflection and prayer dedicated to God. They celebrated His goodness, they remembered His faithfulness and they expressed with their lips a harmonious “thank you.” Despite the best efforts of some to paint the first thanksgiving with a politically correct brush, the Indians were not the focus of the Pilgrims’ gratitude. The Native Americans were included in the feast and recognized for their assistance to be sure, but it was God who was supremely “thanked.” The fruits of the earth were enjoyed, but Mother Nature was never mentioned during the days of thanksgiving. In a letter dated Dec. 12, 1621, Edward Winslow described the Pilgrims’ three days of celebration. One phrase in the letter – sprinkled with references and praise to God – is most … [Read more...]

The recent elections accentuate the need to change the adjectives that describe those who reflect biblical social/moral positions compared to those who call themselves Christians but succumb to media hype. The recent elections accentuate the need to change the adjectives that describe those who reflect biblical social/moral positions compared to those who call themselves Christians but succumb to media hype. Instead of calling biblically-oriented followers of Christ “conservative” Christians, it is time to call those who practice biblical values “convictional” Christians. The word conservative has multiple uses. It is employed to discuss fiscal policy, a major moral position, one’s attire, or the rate of speed a person or organization reacts to a circumstance. In the political realm, the word conservative is a relative term on a sliding scale of public opinion. Conservative is in opposition to liberal with a huge number of people in between. In the world of public opinion, you have “ultra” conservative (fundamentalist) as demonstrated by the Westside Baptist clan from Topeka, Kansas, who make a living bashing people with their picket signs. On the other side of the spectrum, the “ultra” liberal forces use the rule … [Read more...]

Resolutions that messengers at the 161st annual meeting at First Baptist New Orleans had to vote on passed unanimously and without dissent. Editor’s Note: Here are the resolutions that messengers at the 161st annual meeting at First Baptist New Orleans had to vote on. All resolutions passed unanimously and without dissent. Resolution 1: EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION WHEREAS, many individuals and groups have had a part in planning, preparing and conducting this 161st annual meeting of our Louisiana Baptist Convention; and WHEREAS, the messengers of this convention desire to recognize warmly and express appreciation to the following: David Crosby and the staff of First Baptist Church, New Orleans, for their assistance with details and for providing the use of the facilities for this annual meeting; and Joe McKeever, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, for the association’s tremendous work with the Crossover events that we trust will yield a harvest in the name of the Lord Jesus; and Mike Holloway, LBC president, for his gracious spirit in leading, speaking, and listening to Louisiana Baptists during the year, and his gentle firmness in moderating this annual meeting; and Mitch … [Read more...]

People are drawn to God through the Jesus-work they see in us, Robert Coleman writes in the “Impartation” chapter of The Master Plan of Evangelism. People are drawn to God through the Jesus-work they see in us, Robert Coleman writes in the “Impartation” chapter of The Master Plan of Evangelism. Jesus gave himself away. “Love is like that; it always gives itself away,” Coleman wrote. “[T]he Master considered no service too small nor sacrifice too great when it was rendered for the glory of God.” For the first four articles in this series, go to www.baptistmessage.com and search for “Evangelism.” “Jesus gave himself to those about him so that they might come to know through his life a similar commitment to the mission for which he had come into the world,” Coleman wrote. “… Just as they had seen for three years, the disciples were to give themselves in selfless devotion to those whom the Father loved and for whom their Master died (John 17:23).” The secret of the “victorious life” was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, according to The Master Plan of Evangelism. “Indeed, the privileges which the disciples were to enjoy in this deeper relationship to the Spirit were greater than they had known as Jesus walked with … [Read more...]