Wagner formerly was a professor of missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and before that an International Mission Board missionary for 31 years in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He served as SBC first vice president from 2003-04. He also is the pastor of a small San Francisco-area church, Snyder Lane Baptist, and the author of the 2004 book, “How Islam Plans to Change the World,” published by Kregel. Wagner formerly was a professor of missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and before that an International Mission Board missionary for 31 years in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He served as SBC first vice president from 2003-04. He also is the pastor of a small San Francisco-area church, Snyder Lane Baptist, and the author of the 2004 book, “How Islam Plans to Change the World,” published by Kregel. Wagner has written a “Contract with Southern Baptists,” which consists of 10 points he hopes to implement if elected. The contract can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.williamwagner.org/. Wagner received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and his master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He also holds a doctor … [Read more...]

Families in China’s earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province are in greatest need of water purification and trauma counseling, a Southern Baptist assessment team has concluded after a seven-day visit to the region that concluded May 30. CHENGDU, China (BP) – Families in China’s earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province are in greatest need of water purification and trauma counseling, a Southern Baptist assessment team has concluded after a seven-day visit to the region that concluded May 30. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the region May 12 killed more than 69,000 people in hill country north of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Nearly 19,000 people still are listed as missing, and 368,545 reportedly were injured. China’s Xinhua news service reports that 15,147,400 people have been evacuated from the disaster area. “China is a special case when it comes to disaster relief,” Southern Baptist disaster relief expert and assessment team leader Mickey Caison said. “Many of our normal expectations and strategies do not apply here. The best way to support these needs is to primarily work through local groups. “With a population of 1.3 billion, there is no shortage of labor,” Caison said. “And the Chinese army … [Read more...]

Serving Jesus, while serving you. The sign at the entrance of the camp reflects what Dry Creek Baptist Camp has offered for almost 30 years. DRY CREEK – Serving Jesus, while serving you. The sign at the entrance of the camp reflects what Dry Creek Baptist Camp has offered for almost 30 years. Nestled away in the pine forests of southern Beauregard Parish, the 62-acre encampment provides summer camps for the young, year-round retreats for the adults, and a refuge for all those looking to escape the distractions of their everyday lives so they can get closer to God. The camp was once Dry Creek High School, which closed in 1960, but was bought by the Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1980. The old school was renovated and the Adult center, as it is now called, has 26 hotel-like rooms as well as two conference rooms where many retreats are held yearly. The rest of the camp, which rests to the right of the old school, sprung up on land purchased when the school was bought in 1980. Located at the intersection of La. Highway 113 and 394, there is only the camp – the source of great community pride –, a small post office and a small general store.   To fully appreciate, and understand the pride the community has in this … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – In many ways, New Orleans is back. The economy, fueled by rebuilding efforts and open ports at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, is robust, with unemployment at 3.8 percent. NEW ORLEANS – In many ways, New Orleans is back. The economy, fueled by rebuilding efforts and open ports at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, is robust, with unemployment at 3.8 percent. More than 400,000 people attended the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival last month. But vital statistics don’t tell the whole story. On the residential streets that Don Snipes drives every day, the rot on most homes from the flooding of Hurricane Katrina nearly three years ago is still evident. For every freshly painted, spick-and-span rebuild, there are three, maybe four, that look dilapidated. A few have weeds growing waist high and the letters TFW (toxic flood water) still spray-painted on  the front of the houses in the aftermath of the 2005 disaster. Not everyone will return and some houses will be demolished, yet the task that remains seems overwhelming, said Snipes, the SBTC’s on-site coordinator for Southern Baptists’ Operation NOAH (New Orleans Area Hope) Rebuild effort. Snipes, who came to the job from a pastorate in Big Spring and … [Read more...]

Each spring and fall since 1981, Baptist ministers and laymen have gathered at various locations throughout Louisiana to enjoy a time of fellowship and golf. ALEXANDRIA – Each spring and fall since 1981, Baptist ministers and laymen have gathered at various locations throughout Louisiana to enjoy a time of fellowship and golf. The tradition was kept alive this spring as more than 80 pastors and laymen participated in a friendly – but highly competitive – two-day tournament here in Alexandria. The 20, four-man teams from across the state of Louisiana participated  at the 18-hole Links on the Bayou.  A number of new players attended this spring’s tournament – in its 27th year – to compete alongside the numerous veterans from previous Baptist Golf Fellowship tournaments. “Woodridge Baptist in  Shreveport always has a good group,” said Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and a sponsor of the tournament.  “Woodlawn Baptist in Baton Rouge brought 10 players to this year’s tournament,” said Tommy Middleton, church pastor. Chuck Lowman badgered him into coming to this year’s event, Middleton said.  “This is just a warmup for Woodlawn’s fall golf tournament,” Lowman, a five-time … [Read more...]

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’” This was one of the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples as he sent them into “every town and place where he was about to go.” “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’”  This was one of the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples as he sent them into “every town and place where he was about to go.” One might conclude that the instructions in this text were merely reciting common courtesy, the modern equivalent of “Have a nice day” or “God bless you.”  But the references to the peace of God in the Bible, Old and New testaments, are too numerous to be understood as superficial niceties. The Greek word eirene is used more than 90 times in the New Testament.  It conveys much more than a fraternal greeting or the absence of conflict. It has the same meaning of the Hebrew shalom.  In fact, more than 250 times in the Septuagint (LXX), eirene translates the word shalom.  Shalom describes a state of general well-being that comes ultimately from God. The man who possesses the shalom of God is blessed, guarded, and treated graciously by God.  The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that the peace of God has been finally demonstrated, … [Read more...]

The day started out OK. The business trip to Atlanta with my friend and coworker had been planned for weeks. Our first hint of trouble occurred when I checked the news on my cellular telephone. The day started out OK. The business trip to Atlanta with my friend and coworker had been planned for weeks. Our first hint of trouble occurred when I checked the news on my cellular telephone. American Airlines had grounded more than 200 flights due to safety concerns. As the old saying goes, “Better safe than sorry.” Much to our delight, our flight was cleared for take-off. We arrived in Dallas in time to catch our connecting flight. Once nestled in, the captain announced our flight had been delayed, but we were allowed to de-plane and grab a bite. We were getting nowhere fast. Time passed quickly, but as we approached our gate, the lobby looked like a ghost town. Did the rapture occur? Had we been left behind? Only a few secondary lights were on and ticket agents were nowhere to be found. Our spirits sank. In our quest for food and fellowship, had we ignored the warnings for final boarding call? Just what had happened? We set out to find other human life forms. Eventually, a night guard directed us to activity on the other … [Read more...]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – More than 23,000 Southern Baptist students – from teenage to college-age – will tackle roofing, drywall repairs, painting and landscaping in 96 World Changers projects this summer in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. By the time World Changers winds down operations in early August, the North American Mission Board’s initiative to renovate substandard housing expects to have donated $16.4 million in free labor in 80 American cities – including New Orleans and Baton Rouge – and reached 1,000 people for Christ. NAMB is a partnering agency with the 44,000-plus churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. “Continuing to work with Operation NOAH Rebuild, we’ll do five different rehab projects in New Orleans requiring 1,100 workers,” said John W. Bailey, NAMB’s leader for student volunteer mobilization. Now in its 19th year, World Changers is a pre-packaged mission experience sponsored and managed by NAMB, enabling students to donate a week (Saturday to Saturday) of their summer to rehabilitate some of the poorer neighborhoods of America – at no charge to the homeowner. The 96 projects kicked off May 30-June 7 in Indianapolis, a first-time World Changers site, where rehab work on 15 homes … [Read more...]

A 1-year-old girl died of pneumonia in May at a refugee camp on the grounds of Word of Faith Church in Limuru, northwest of Nairobi. LIMURU, Kenya (BP) – A 1-year-old girl died of pneumonia in May at a refugee camp on the grounds of Word of Faith Church in Limuru, northwest of Nairobi. Despite the shortage of firewood for heating and cooking, carpenter John Kimani* – himself a camp resident and survivor of the post-election violence in Kenya – built a coffin for the child. The small, rough-hewn box sat awaiting her body on a sunny afternoon as several Southern Baptist relief workers visited the IDP (“internally displaced persons”) camp. This child’s death made no headlines inside or outside Kenya. Months have passed since the disputed Kenyan presidential election on Dec. 27 unleashed weeks of frenzied political and tribal violence, killing more than 1,000 people and driving at least 300,000 from their homes. Other international crises have arisen since. Other disasters have claimed the world’s attention. The political powder keg that threatened to explode into civil war in once-stable Kenya was defused – at least for the moment – when President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga struck a power-sharing … [Read more...]

RENO, Nev. (BP) – A Southern Baptist church plant in Reno, Nev., has come up with a plan to counter the hateful messages touted by frequent protestor Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church group: Rent space on a billboard to proclaim God’s love for the people of Reno. “Out here, a lot of people are just kind of ignorant to the Gospel,” Mike Stewart, pastor of Discovery Fellowship, said, referring to a cultural lack of knowledge regarding true Christianity. “If they know anything about God, it’s either He’s indifferent or He’s angry or He hates women.” Stewart told Baptist Press that belief was reinforced when Phelps and his crew were in Reno earlier this year to protest at a soldier’s funeral. They found themselves the target of an anti-protest by a group of motorcyclists who rallied to show support for the soldier’s family, and the Westboro group from Kansas was angered. “They decided that they were going to make Reno a focus city,” Stewart said. “They said they were going to be here more often than not.” Around the same time, Reno was shaken by news that a local college student, 19-year-old Brianna Denison, had been kidnapped, raped and murdered. Her body was found in a field less than a mile from the … [Read more...]