Submitted by Staff on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 02:00 … [Read more...]

Statistics and their interpretation are not unimportant (3,000 saved on the Day of Pentecost). However, they often function in Southern Baptist life to remind me of a search for goblins that have no reality. Statistics and their interpretation are not unimportant (3,000 saved on the Day of Pentecost). However, they often function in Southern Baptist life to remind me of a search for goblins that have no reality. LifeWay recently released statistics gathered from reports of the churches. Doomsayers and analysts immediately began to explain to readers what the numbers “meant” and why such catastrophic shrinkage had occurred in Southern Baptist churches. So, to paraphrase Luke, “since many have taken in hand” this assessment, maybe one more will do no harm. In fact, another perspective might even be helpful. At the outset one can only say that the picture does not look the way those of us who played a role in the Conservative Renaissance had hoped. We did not embark upon that massive effort merely for the sake of truth, even though such would surely have been noble. Neither were we convinced that full confidence in the truth of Scripture would result in more evangelism and missions because we knew of historical cases of … [Read more...]

“God blesses the church that blesses the world,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, to members of the Executive Board gathered at Tall Timbers for its regularly-scheduled spring meeting. WOODWORTH – “God blesses the church that blesses the world,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, to members of the Executive Board gathered at Tall Timbers for its regularly-scheduled spring meeting.  Hankins was talking about giving from the churches to missions through the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s method to strengthen state conventions and global missions outreach.  Hankins’ report was the first in a newly streamlined agenda designed to compress the business of the board into a one-day event.  Year-to-date, Louisiana Southern Baptist churches have given $830,000 more to missions through the Cooperative Program in 2008 than in 2007, an 11.16 percent increase, Hankins reported. “I believe across Louisiana we are seeing the spirit of God move in unusual ways,” Hankins said as part of his executive director’s report to the Executive Board.  “Second Wind” is to be the theme of the annual meeting, set for Nov. 10-11 in New … [Read more...]

Submitted by Jerry Love on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 02:00 … [Read more...]

With appropriate pomp and circumstance, 158 undergraduate students from 14 states and three nations – counting the U.S.A. – received their earned degrees from Louisiana College Saturday, May 10. PINEVILLE – With appropriate pomp and circumstance, 158 undergraduate students  from 14 states and three nations – counting the U.S.A. – received their earned degrees from Louisiana College Saturday, May 10. In addition, T.C. “Tommy” French Jr., 50-year pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, received an honorary doctorate in ministry, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal received an honorary doctorate in law at the LC graduation ceremonies. “Our graduates have gotten a wonderful education at Louisiana College,” Jindal said during the commencement address, making note of the Christian worldview taught in LC classes. “She went here kicking and screaming, but after one semester, she decided to say,” said Clarence Robinson Jr. of his daughter, Brittany Robinson, one of the Class of 2008. “It cost me a pretty penny, but she got good Christian values and a good education out of it, so it was worth it.” Guinn Auditorium on the LC campus was standing room only for the graduation ceremony, which graduates said would have … [Read more...]

This year’s youth and high school Bible Drill, Xtreme Bible Challenge and speakers’ tournament events sponsored by the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Youth Ministries team had a total of 418 participants. PINEVILLE – This year’s youth and high school Bible Drill, Xtreme Bible Challenge and speakers’ tournament events sponsored by the LBC Evangelism/Church Growth Youth Ministries team had a total of 418 participants.  There were 275 Children’s Bible Drillers, 72 Youth Bible Drillers, 64 High School, 3 Xtreme Bible Challenge Teams and 6 Youth Speakers’ Tournament participants, participated at Louisiana College. Youth Bible Drill: 7th Grade Bible Drill – There were 6 people recognized as winners in three 7th grade groups.  They were: Inah Hong – Williams Blvd., Kenner; Savanna Whitten-Lakeshore, Monroe; Kaeli Morgan-Woodlawn, Baton Rouge; Alex Dease-FBC, Covington;Kadee McKoin-Lakeshore, Monroe; Rachel Haines-Heritage, Shreveport. 8th Grade Bible Drill – There were 4 people recognized as winners in two 8th grade groups. They were: Mary Katherine Schober-Heritage, Shreveport; Paul Vige’-Bible Baptist, DeQuincy; Victoria Rutledge-Crossroads, Kenner; Naomi Law-FBC, Gonzales.      9th Grade Bible Drill – The first & … [Read more...]

Associations Seek Leaders • Northeast Association needs pastors at Fairbanks Baptist Fairbanks, Peniel Baptist West Monroe, Fellowship Baptist Monroe, First Baptist Swartz, Memorial Baptist Monroe. Ministers of music needed at Clark Springs Baptist Eros, Edgewood Baptist West Monroe, First Baptist Monroe, Lighthouse Baptist Monroe, Loch Arbor Baptist Monroe. Ministers of youth needed at Bethel Baptist West Monroe, Clark Springs Baptist Eros, Emmanuel Baptist West Monroe, Highland Park Baptist Monroe, Lighthouse Baptist Monroe, New Light Baptist Monroe. Children’s Minister needed at Fairbanks Baptist Monroe, Mt. Vernon Baptist West Monroe. • Northwest Association needs pastors at: Cypress Baptist Benton, Fillmore Baptist Princeton, Northwoods Baptist Shreveport, Oak Hill Baptist Plain Dealing, First Baptist Vivian, Willow Point Baptist Shreveport, Woodland Hills Baptist Shreveport. Minister of Music/Education needed at: First Baptist Haughton. Minister of Evangelism/Discipleship needed at: First Baptist Haughton, Kingston Road Baptist Shreveport. Ministers of Youth needed at: Kingston Road Baptist, Shreveport; Mooringsport Baptist Mooringsport, North Keithville Baptist Keithville, Northwoods Baptist Shreveport, First Baptist … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS • Jonah Callais, new as pastor of Bayou L’Ourse Baptist, Bayou L’Ourse. • David Mitchell, new as minister of music of Youngsville Baptist, Youngsville. • Jene Wilton and Tim Parker, new as co-youth directors of First Baptist, Benton. • Barry LeBlanc, new as music minister of First Baptist, Greenwood. • Clarence (wife Shirley) Chism, new as pastor of North Keithville Baptist, Keithville. NEEDED • Pinewood Derby track needed at First Baptist, Chalmette. Call 504.715.1479. John Jeffries, pastor. • Full-time worship leader needed, First Baptist, Moss Bluff. Send resumes and DVDs c/o Shawn Thomas, First Baptist Church Moss Bluff, 276 Old Hwy. 171, Lake Charles LA 70611 or pastor@fbcmossbluff.org. • Part-time minister of music needed, Crestview Baptist, Farmerville. Contact Chantele Maxey at 318.292.4159 or 318.548.1639. • Full-time minister of music and education needed, First Baptist, Jena. Send resume to First Baptist Church, PO Box 1379, Jena LA 71342 or jenafirst@centurytel.net. • Full-time pastor needed at Trinity Baptist, Oakdale. Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 210 W. Beck Avenue, PO Box 748, Oakdale LA 71463. DEATHS • Dwight Wesson, interim pastor of First Baptist, … [Read more...]

Names of Louisianans can be found on virtually every one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s committees and agency boards. STATEWIDE – Names of Louisianans can be found on virtually every one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s committees and agency boards.  Others are part of the various entities’ programs set for or adjacent to the SBC’s 2008 annual meeting, set for June 10-11 at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. The list of Louisianians who have been given the nod by denominational entities: • When the North American Mission Board hosts a national Hispanic celebration in Indianapolis on June 8, Gonzalo Rodriguez, pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Metairie, will be one of two guest speakers. The other? NAMB President Geoff Hammond. • When the members of the Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network meet for their annual meeting June 8 in Indianapolis, they’ll distribute the sixth annual Journal of African American Southern Baptist History. James Jenkins, LBC regional strategist, wrote one of the articles for the Journal this year, titled “The Early Black Baptists: Slavery and the Great Awakening.” • David Cranford, pastor of Tioga First Baptist Church in Pineville, … [Read more...]

The best way to understand the “emerging church” is to approach the movement from a missiological perspective, Ed Stetzer told a Baptist College Partnership meeting at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – The best way to understand the “emerging church” is to approach the movement from a missiological perspective, Ed Stetzer told a Baptist College Partnership meeting at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The emerging church movement, much like postmodernism, has proven too diverse for easy definition, with participants scattered along a lengthy continuum, said Stetzer, who is an experienced church planter and director of LifeWay Christian Resources’ research division. Participants in the emerging church say much of contemporary Christianity is consumer-driven, Stetzer noted. The movement essentially seeks to express Christianity in a way relevant to people outside the church. “The emergent/emerging church stands as something of a collective voice in an attempt to call attention to the ways in which contemporary expressions of Christianity have been domesticated,” Stetzer said in his April 4 comments. That collective voice began in a 1997 event sponsored by the Dallas-based Leadership … [Read more...]