Bills still are being filed in the Louisiana Legislature - but there already are areas of concern related to gambling and other issues, Ken Ward said.   Legislators have until April 24 to file bills. However, more than 1,700 measures already have been submitted, including 80 bills related to gambling. Bills still are being filed in the Louisiana Legislature - but there already are areas of concern related to gambling and other issues, Ken Ward said.   Legislators have until April 24 to file bills. However, more than 1,700 measures already have been submitted, including 80 bills related to gambling.   Proposed bills range from attempts to limit the expansion of gambling to wholesale expansion, said Ward, executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation.   He specifically cited House Bill 50, which would allow easy local elections on video poker. As proposed, the bill would allow persons to petition for a local election - regardless of any previous votes on the issue - and agree to pay for the new vote. If a majority of voters in the targeted area (such as a parish or municipality or ward) approved of video poker, it would be allowed.   "Gambling … [Read more...]

Are Southern Baptists still southern - or has America’s largest non-Catholic body become an entity that has transcended both its name and the culture that birthed it? Are Southern Baptists still southern - or has America’s largest non-Catholic body become an entity that has transcended both its name and the culture that birthed it?   A group of historians and scholars tackled the question during a recent conference on Southern Baptists in a new millennium at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. (See related articles on Page 10)   Most participants agreed the Southern Baptist Convention has become increasingly a nationwide denomination and is less restricted in influence to the South.   Nevertheless, its connections with the South run far deeper than merely its name - and the Southern Baptist Convention itself remains an integral part of southern culture, participants explained.   "For the time being, it seems to me, the Southern Baptist Convention is more like country music or NASCAR," said John Shelton Reed, professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina. "You know it is something that is still rooted in its region and still reflects the South and its … [Read more...]

For golfing enthusiasts, all talk in this week of the Masters tournament is about which golfer will win.   But for a pair of professional golfers, their thoughts likely are on a golfer who will not even be competing in the fabled tournament — the late Payne Stewart.   And why not? For golfing enthusiasts, all talk in this week of the Masters tournament is about which golfer will win.   But for a pair of professional golfers, their thoughts likely are on a golfer who will not even be competing in the fabled tournament — the late Payne Stewart.   And why not?   Lee Janzen and Darin Hoff are walking closer with the Lord today because of the life and influence of their late friend.   Janzen and his family were baptized at a Texas church about five months before the plane crash that claimed the lives of Stewart and several companions.   For Janzen, the tragedy emphasized that he needed to get more serious about his relationship with Christ. "It speeded up the process of learning and growing, and going from an infant in the Lord to someone growing up," Janzen says. "I certainly came along a lot more in the past year than I did in the year … [Read more...]

The Louisiana College Baptist Campus Ministries is hosting a benefit golf tournament at Emerald Hills Golf Resort In Florien (Hwy 171) on May 7, 2001, to help fund the efforts of LC-BSM students who will invest themselves in mission endeavors in the USA and abroad this summer. The Louisiana College Baptist Campus Ministries is hosting a benefit golf tournament at Emerald Hills Golf Resort In Florien (Hwy 171) on May 7, 2001, to help fund the efforts of LC-BSM students who will invest themselves in mission endeavors in the USA and abroad this summer.   The format for the tournament is a two-person scramble, shot-gun start beginning at 8:00 a.m. The Cost is $50 per golfer which includes 18 holes of golf, cart and hamburger bar lunch. A block of rooms at $60/day for a room with two double beds, has been secured at Emerald Hills Resort for those who prefer to arrive Sunday night. Arrangements for rooms can be made by contacting the resort directly at (318) 586-4661 and mentioning the LC tournament.   This will be a fun day to fellowship and play golf with Christian laymen, pastors and staff members from around the state. To schedule your own participation, to sponsor a pastor or other staff person … [Read more...]

Elliott and Pat Parks Nichols will work among the Wolof people of West Africa. The couple will engage in church starts in an effort to spark a church-planting movement in the highly Islamic region. He is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Since 1996, Nichols has served as mission pastor at Grace Community Baptist Mission in New Orleans. Elliott and Pat Parks Nichols will work among the Wolof people of West Africa. The couple will engage in church starts in an effort to spark a church-planting movement in the highly Islamic region. He is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Since 1996, Nichols has served as mission pastor at Grace Community Baptist Mission in New Orleans.   Quintin and Kim Noble Ratliff will work to evangelize and disciple college students in northern Thailand. The former Kim Noble is daughter of Bonnie Noble of the Baton Rouge area and the late Eli Noble. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. She says her call to missions was confirmed by God during a World Missions Conference at Louisiana College. Churches the couple considers influential in their Christian growth include Zoar Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and Temple Baptist … [Read more...]

For the week of April 5, 2001 Potpourri   •COLUMBIA - Cross Roads church and other SBC churches to sponsor 2001 Caldwell Parish Jesus Saves Crusade to be held April 19-25, 7 p.m., at the corner of McClary Road and Hwy. 126, 2 miles West of Grayson. For information, call the church office at (318) 649-2227 or contact Shane Duke, pastor of Cross Roads church and director of Crossover Ministries, at (318) 649-7720 or e-mail any questions to: CrossoverMin@juno.com.   •COVINGTON - First church: senior adult spring celebration; April 23-25, 10 a.m.; Frank Gunn, Landrum Leavell and James Carter, speakers; for information, contact David Rockett at (504) 892-2149; Waylon Bailey, pastor.   •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: spring Bible conference; April 23-24; Chuck Kelley and Bill Tolar, speakers; Clayton Iles and Margie Nell Walker, music; no cost; pre-register by calling (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   •FAIRBANKS - Fairbanks church: women’s conference; April 28, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Rhonda Kelley, speaker; registration fee is $5; to register or for information, call (318) 665-2115; Butch Goodman, pastor.   •LEESVILLE - East Leesville church: Common Good in … [Read more...]

For the week of April 12, 2001 Potpourri   •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: ladies retreat; April 27-28; Becky Brown, speaker; Lana Havens, music; cost is $35/person, $25/commuters or $15/one day; to register or for information, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   •LECOMPTE - First church: "Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames" drama presentation; April 22-24, 7 p.m.; children’s ministry provided; free admission; for information, call the church office at (318) 776-9487; Ed Chaney, interim pastor.   •KENNER - Williams Blvd. church: Sunday School Worker Training; April 21, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Buford G. Easley, pastor.   •MANY - Calvary church to co-sponsor "Alleluia! He is alive!" Easter production; April 12-13, 7 p.m. to be held at Sabine Theater; Cyle Clayton, pastor.   •WINNSBORO - Temple church: "Soul Revolution" Youth DiscipleNow 2001 Weekend; April 20, 6 p.m.; April 21, 7:30 a.m.; The Darins in concert, 7 p.m.; April 22, 9:45 a.m.; Jonas Wilson, speaker; One Way, praise team; for information, contact Mark Wilson, minister of youth, at (318) 435-5379; Jim Taylor, pastor.   •WISNER - First church: Souled Out in concert; April 22, 6 … [Read more...]

Louisiana lawmakers will be dealing with some key moral and social issues during their current legislative sessions   C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor Louisiana lawmakers will be dealing with some key moral and social issues during their current legislative sessions   Spring has arrived, which can mean only one thing - the Louisiana Legislature is back in session and considering all forms and fashions of bills.   Some proposed measures are good.   Some are bad.   Some could prove downright disastrous.   All in all, almost 3,000 bills have been proposed in the current session and must end by June 18.   As expected, considerable attention is being paid to gamb-ling in Louisiana - even though one might wonder what is left to do that legislators already have not done.   Indeed, in a recent special session, legislators approved a reduced deal in order to keep the New Orleans land-based casino open. They also passed a measure that now will allow the 14 riverboats throughout the state to remain permanently docked, a move dearly sought by boat operators.   But with gambling, there is always the possibility for more - … [Read more...]

Louisiana College recently celebrated the opening of its newest campus facility - the James and Mary Baker Health and Wellness Center. Louisiana College recently celebrated the opening of its newest campus facility - the James and Mary Baker Health and Wellness Center.   The $8.5 million facility is named for the Bakers, prominent business and community leaders who are long-time supporters of the college and who made a sizable contribution toward building the center.   The Bakers are members at First Baptist Church of Pineville. He also is a former trustee chair for the Louisiana College board.   "It is through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Baker that this facility came into existence," Louisiana College President Rory Lee emphasized during dedication ceremonies on the final day of March.   "Jim and Mary Baker have made many significant contributions in years past," Lee continued. "This (center), like many of their previous efforts, will make life better for those in Central Louisiana.   "In addition to convenient health care, the Baker Center will provide fitness and educational opportunities for students and the community alike."   The Baker Center … [Read more...]

President George Bush’s plan to use federal money to fund faith-based social programs has been introduced into Congress - amidst continued concerns. President George Bush’s plan to use federal money to fund faith-based social programs has been introduced into Congress - amidst continued concerns.   The plan has drawn criticism from those who say it represents a violation of church and state. It also has been the cause for concern among many evangelicals who worry about minority faiths benefiting from the program and about possible government interference in the work of churches and faith communities that accept federal funds.   Bush already has set up offices in five federal departments to help remove barriers that hinder faith-based groups from working with government to help the needy.   Another aspect of the plan would allow non-itemizing taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions. The move has been well-received and is expected to be approved.   However, the proposal to funnel government funds to faith-based groups offering social services is expected to stall in the United States Senate.   Still, it is included in legislation recently introduced in the … [Read more...]