Several prayer initiatives within the Southern Baptist Convention in the coming months reflect an expanding emphasis on intercession and seeking God’s guidance. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Several prayer initiatives within the Southern Baptist Convention in the coming months reflect an expanding emphasis on intercession and seeking God’s guidance. The first opportunity will be at the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis June 10-11. Subsequent prayer efforts will be: • June 11-13, sponsored by the Church Prayer Leaders Network and hosted at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, S.C. • Aug. 4-6, initiated by T.W. Hunt, author of “The Mind of Christ,” and hosted at Spring (Texas) Baptist Church. • Aug. 7-9, “We Bow Down” national prayer conference, with Richard Blackaby as one of several keynote speakers, hosted by Riverside Baptist Church, Denver, Colo. • Sept. 23 to Nov. 2, a 40-day convention-wide emphasis for spiritual revival and national renewal sponsored by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and the North American Mission Board. • Oct. 11-17, “Broken Before the Throne II,” a sequel to the prayer conference initiated last year by West Virginia pastor Dan Biser. Westview Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

The National Day of Prayer was established as an annual event in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The National Day of Prayer was established as an annual event in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The observance of the National Day of Prayer is founded on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion and can be celebrated by all Americans. Days of prayer have been called for since 1775, when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for such a day. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the NDP. National Day of Prayer Task Force The NDP Task Force concentrates on the need to pray for the well-being of America and for those in leadership on all levels of national, church and educational areas of influence. In 2008, the NDP will be observed on Thursday, May 1. Is the National Day of Prayer exclusively a Christian event? No. This government-proclaimed day is offered to all Americans, regardless of religion, to celebrate … [Read more...]

It doesn’t matter how long servants of God live, but how they live while in His service. SPEARSVILLE – It doesn’t matter how long servants of God live, but how they live while in His service. For the last 62 years, Forrest Post has faithfully served God as a pastor and evangelist throughout the small towns and communities of northeast Louisiana. He has served seven churches and has conservatively preached more than 350 revivals – an average of seven to 10 a year – during that time.  He is the father of six, grandfather to 14 and great grandfather to 10. He retired at the age of 65, after 47 years in the ministry, sat out only a couple of months and for the past 15 years has pastored his home church – Camp Creek. Now 80 (he celebrated his 80th birthday on Feb. 16), not even heart surgeries, a battle with prostate cancer and a bout with gout seem able to slow him down. “I have been very blessed,” Post said. “I have my ailments, sure who doesn’t, but you don’t see many 80-year-olds doing any better physically. I enjoy every day because I am serving God.” However, Post readily admits he didn’t always feel this way. “I always said I would travel after I got out of high school,” Post said. “I was 16 years old when … [Read more...]

What does it mean to be “Called to Holy Living?” Attendees at the 108th annual Missions Celebration and WMU Annual Meeting learned the answer to that question as speakers shared about volunteer opportunities across the state, nation and world, and were challenged to seek opportunities to reach the lost. BATON ROUGE—What does it mean to be “Called to Holy Living?” Attendees at the 108th annual Missions Celebration and WMU Annual Meeting learned the answer to that question as speakers shared about volunteer opportunities across the state, nation and world, and were challenged to seek opportunities to reach the lost. “The challenge for the 12 months before our next mission celebration and WMU annual meeting is to be prepared for action, disciplined to see it through and share the hope we have in Christ Jesus as we carry out Acts 1:8,” Janie Wise, women’s missions and ministry strategist said. “God is calling you to be a part of what is going on in our state.” Drive–by bus tours provided an opportunity to see and hear mission opportunities in Greater Baton Rouge. Participants saw the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering at work as they visited each site. As the choir from Vietnamese Hope Baptist Church sang “I will … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists continue their fervent interest in serving God through serving others. The following is the month’s list of mission projects. STATEWIDE – Louisiana Baptists continue their fervent interest in serving God through serving others. The following is the month’s list of mission projects.  n Training for the 56 youth, college students and adults who have committed to being part of the First Baptist Bogalusa summer mission trip set for July 12-20 to Gallup, N.M. is offered at 4 p.m. each Sunday. Elwood, a metal flamingo friend, is being used as a trip fund raiser. Bob Adams, pastor. n First Baptist Minden, Brazil Mission Team, recently returned from  Florianopolis. Wayne DuBose and W. D. “Step” Martin were recently hosted by missionaries as they traveled and ministered in Armenia. The church’s youth choir will minister in Southern California in June and a young adult mission team will serve in Nicaragua in July.  Wayne DuBose, pastor. n  First Baptist Blanchard recently held a mission fair. Two fishing tournaments are planned to benefit missions, May 3 and June 7. A Fish Fry, Missions Auction and Bake Sale are set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Poke Salad grounds, Friday, May 9. Donated items are needed for … [Read more...]

First Baptist Houma Bayou Baptist Association HOUMA – First Baptist Church of Houma, which is building a school as well as a new church complex on 23 acres in northwest Houma, invites families this summer to participate in the school construction. The new church construction is being built by contractors; the school, by volunteers. “This school is a total act of faith,” said Steve Folmar, pastor since 1999. “We will begin construction May 1 and build until the school is completed.” In an area that is 78 percent Catholic, Christian students need an opportunity to study in a God-centered, Bible-based environment that will give them the foundation to become solid leaders in their adult lives, Folmar said. Covenant Christian School, a ministry of First Houma, started last fall in the church with classes for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade, nine teachers, and 149 students enrolled. For the 2008-09 school year, classes are slated to go through ninth grade, four teachers are to be added, and 190 students have enrolled so far. The school plans to add one grade a year, Folmar said. After a thorough search, David Myers of Temple, Texas, recently was hired as Covenant’s principal. “We need volunteers to help build … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS n  Casey Williams, new as minister of youth and recreation, Temple Baptist, Ruston. n  Johnathan (wife Liza) Bush, appointed as chaplain by NAMB, Louisiana Air National Guard and Ochsner Hospital. n  Marla Fuller, appointed as chaplain by NAMB, Baton Rouge General  Medical Center. n  Jeff (wife Angela) Hoffman, appointed as chaplain by NAMB, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Department. n  Scott Smith, new as pastor, First Baptist, Tullos.  NEEDED  n  Full-time youth minister needed at First Baptist, Jonesville. n  Full-time pastor needed at Trinity Baptist, Oakdale. Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 210 W. Beck Avenue, PO Box 74, Oakdale LA 71463. n  Part-time minister of youth needed at First Baptist, Montgomery. Send resume to PO Box 475,  Montgomery LA  71454 or call 318.628.7284. REVIVALS n  LIVINGSTON – First Baptist, 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 4; 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, May 5-7. Joe Aulds, evangelist; Price Harris, music; Tim Norris, pastor. n  FRANKLINTON – First Baptist Senior Adult Revival, Monday through Friday, May 5-9. Luther Stanford, pastor.  CHURCH AND ASSOCIATION EVENTS  n  ZWOLLE – First Baptist AWANA Talent Show, 5 p.m. Sunday, May 4. … [Read more...]

Television has been blamed for excessive weight gain, violent behavior, promiscuity, and a lack of physical fitness among our nation’s youth, and that’s just the fallout from the commercials. Television has been blamed for excessive weight gain, violent behavior, promiscuity, and a lack of physical fitness among our nation’s youth, and that’s just the fallout from the commercials. American homes now have more television sets than people, according to Nielsen Media Research. There are 2.73 TV sets and 2.55 people in the average home, with the average person watching four hours, 35 minutes of television each day. It is hard to put a finger on the mysterious attraction television images seem to have on normally level-headed folks, particularly young people and males of any age. While television and other media may not be totally to blame—these children do have parents—reading is less and less a hobby for America’s young people. A study released in November 2007 by the National Endowment for the Arts reveals the typical young adult—aged 17-24—is in front of the television 2 to 2 ½ hours a day but spends only seven minutes with an open book. Who is watching the children watch television?   Newton Minow, who served as … [Read more...]

People who don’t go to church may be turned off by a recent trend toward more utilitarian church buildings. By a nearly 2-to-1 ratio over any other option, unchurched Americans prefer churches that look more like a medieval cathedral than what most think of as a more contemporary church building.  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--People who don’t go to church may be turned off by a recent trend toward more utilitarian church buildings. By a nearly 2-to-1 ratio over any other option, unchurched Americans prefer churches that look more like a medieval cathedral than what most think of as a more contemporary church building. The findings come from a survey conducted by LifeWay Research for the Cornerstone Knowledge Network (CKN), a group of church-focused facilities development firms. The online survey included 1,684 unchurched adults – defined as those who had not attended a church, mosque or synagogue in the past six months except for religious holidays or special events. “Despite billions being spent on church buildings, there was an overall decline in church attendance in the 1990s,” said Jim Couchenour, director of marketing and ministry services for Cogun, Inc., a founding member of CKN. “This led CKN to ask, ‘As church builders … [Read more...]

Why does the Southern Baptist Convention need to start even more churches than the 43,000-plus now on the books? ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Why does the Southern Baptist Convention need to start even more churches than the 43,000-plus now on the books? David Meacham, senior strategist for church planting with the North American Mission Board, says it’s because Christian denominations – especially the 16-million-member SBC – regard planting new churches as the single most effective way to evangelize. New churches, Meacham said, simply do a better job of reaching more people for Christ than long-established churches. “A three-year-old church is only half as effective in reaching people for the Lord as it was in its early days,” Meacham noted. “And once a church is 15 years old, it becomes only one-third as effective.” Reflecting the overall current deficit in new church planting, Meacham cited a 10-year study of 300,000 Christian churches in America by Dave Olson, director of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church. The research indicated that 3,200 churches close their doors each year in America, while only 3,600 churches are started. “That resulted in a net gain of 4,600 churches between 1990 and 2000,” … [Read more...]