Southern Baptist leaders took a determined step last week to help troubled families. Southern Baptist leaders took a determined step last week to help troubled families.   "Acknowledging that today’s family is under severe attack, we have registered our determination to recover God’s design for the family, strengthen families within our convention and minister to families around the world," a report approved by the SBC Executive Committee reads.   In unanimously adopting the report, committee members agreed last week to establish a blue-ribbon council for marshalling denominational resources related to the family. The council recommendation is the centerpiece of the report, presented by the SBC Committee on Family Life, a study group created last summer by SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman.   The goal is to develop and implement "a cohesive and concerted strategy ... that draws together both our resources and our people with the goal of elevating our families and the meaning of the word ‘family’ to God’s standard as clearly stated in the Scripture," the study group report outlines.   The council will be responsible for making interim reports and delivering … [Read more...]

More than 60 Southern Baptists are slated for overseas missionary appointment by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board March 10 at 7 p.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. More than 60 Southern Baptists are slated for overseas missionary appointment by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board March 10 at 7 p.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.   For the "City of Churches," Christian events are nothing new. "At one point, one out of every five or six people that walked the streets in Shreveport was probably Southern Baptist," said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism at the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "In the northern half of the state, especially Shreveport, there are some strong, strong Southern Baptist churches and strong giving to the Cooperative Program."   Among the missionary appointees are several candidates with ties to Louisiana, mainly through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   For instance, Charles "Elliott" and Patricia Nichols moved from Alaska to Louisiana for the sole purpose of receiving missionary training at the school. As African Americans, the Nicholses join the International Mission Board’s growing … [Read more...]

The Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jerusalem, Israel, requests prayers for the Baptist work in that nation and especially for the ministry of the Jerusalem Baptist Church. The Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jerusalem, Israel, requests prayers for the Baptist work in that nation and especially for the ministry of the Jerusalem Baptist Church.   From its beginning, the Jerusalem Baptist Church has been blessed to have had a Southern Baptist International Mission Board representative as pastor, paid by the International Mission Board.   In 1999, when the board decided to cease funding all English-speaking ministries in Israel, the International Mission Board representative/pastor was reassigned to a new field. The church extended a call to me, a retired pastor, to serve as pastor.   The pastor must be fully in agreement with the Southern Baptist Convention and the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, and he must be self-supported.   I committed to be pastor through September 2001. That commitment ends in seven months, and the church is seeking a new pastor.   There are only two Southern Baptist churches in the nation of Israel, both English-speaking churches. One has been … [Read more...]

For the week of March 1, 2001 Potpourri   •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: deacon’s retreat; March 30-31; John Temple, leader; for information or to register, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   •FRANKLINTON - Hillcrest church: Washington and Two Rivers Association Men’s Rally; March 10, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Chuck Kelley, Buddy Day, Rob Carr and Dean Doster, speakers; lunch provided; Gene Richard, pastor.   •SULPHUR - Maplewood First church: The Martins in concert; March 22, 7 p.m.; tickets are $15 and are available by calling (337) 625-5899; Charley Watson, minister of music; Bobby Taylor, pastor.   Homecomings   •FAIRBANKS - Fairbanks church: 55th homecoming/anniversary; March 11; Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m.; dinner to follow; Brothers In Christ in concert, 2 p.m.; pastor Butch Goodman to speak.   Anniversaries   •MINDEN - First church: Eugene and Maxine Allen; 60 married years.   Revivals   •EUNICE - First church: March 4, 10:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March 5-7, 7 p.m.; Ronnie Hill, evangelist; Clark Palmer, pastor.   •HARRISONBURG - First church: March 11, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; March … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   It has been said "insanity" can be defined as doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. It has been said "insanity" can be defined as doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results.   It has been said "addiction" may be defined as uncontrolled craving for the thing that will destroy you.   It has been said "sucker bet" may be defined as wagering on a guaranteed loser.   When it comes to Louisiana and legalized gambling, all three definitions apply.   Some 100 years ago, Louisiana bought into the promise of gambling - with disastrous results. The ensuing scandal made national headlines - and ended legalized gambling in the state for decades.   The closing years of the last century saw Louisiana legislators bring it back in unparalleled fashion - approving riverboats, video poker, a state lottery and a land-based casino in the city of New Orleans.   Insane, right?   The money has been intoxicating for lawmakers, much as oil and gas revenues were in heady times so many years ago.   Everyone has wanted a piece of the gambling pie, … [Read more...]

Shannon Baker New Orleans Seminary   Women who pour themselves out in prayer, personal testimony and in the investment of relationships will be richly rewarded, speakers emphasized at this year’s Women’s Leadership Consultation in New Orleans. They also will impact others. Women who pour themselves out in prayer, personal testimony and in the investment of relationships will be richly rewarded, speakers emphasized at this year’s Women’s Leadership Consultation in New Orleans. They also will impact others.   "God is using women today to influence other women to him," said consultation Coordinator Rhonda Kelley, wife of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley and adjunct professor of women’s ministry.   "As examples of Christ, we can touch the lives of women personally and biblically. ... Christian women today have the opportunity to influence generations through the power of prayer and one-to-one ministry."   More than 200 women from New Orleans and other states attended the recent annual consultation, held this year at New Orleans Seminary. The theme was "Share Life - the life of a woman ... poured out into others," related to the Titus 2 idea of … [Read more...]

Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, so it stands to reason the state is loaded with sportsmen.   Indeed, someone looking for one of the largest special interest groups in Louisiana and adjoining states need look no further than outdoors men. Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, so it stands to reason the state is loaded with sportsmen.   Indeed, someone looking for one of the largest special interest groups in Louisiana and adjoining states need look no further than outdoors men.   With that in mind, two Louisiana sportsmen are fine tuning an effort to turn this strong interest into a natural venue to present the gospel to the vast numbers of hunters.   David Fortenberry and Gene Hoyt have established Outdoor Evangelism Association Incorporated. The educational and outreach efforts of the men are aimed at presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ in a setting that attracts sportsmen who, in many cases, would not attend regular church meetings.   The 15-month record of this targeted effort indicates significant success.   "We just had a pastor call whose church is … [Read more...]

A running joke among Baptist ministers during two decades of denominational infighting has been, "If the Southern Baptist Convention splits, I’m going with the Annuity Board."   For some persons, it no longer could prove a laughing matter. A running joke among Baptist ministers during two decades of denominational infighting has been, "If the Southern Baptist Convention splits, I’m going with the Annuity Board."   For some persons, it no longer could prove a laughing matter.   The Southern Baptist agency has reminded state conventions that its policies state staff members from churches that publicly sever ties with the convention no longer can be eligible to participate in Annuity Board retirement or insurance programs.   The board can continue to manage asset accumulations and distributions for past participants but cannot accept additional contributions or make insurance programs available, officials explained.   State convention officials have been asked to implement the established policy and to notify the Annuity Board when a church announces its withdrawal from the Southern Baptist Convention.   The Church Annuity Plan is based on contractual … [Read more...]

The Roman Catholic Church continues to be the largest denomination in the United States, with Southern Baptists ahead of all others. The 2001 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches puts Roman Catholic membership at 62 million in this country. Southern Baptists are second with 15.8 million members, the yearbook reports. The Roman Catholic Church continues to be the largest denomination in the United States, with Southern Baptists ahead of all others. The 2001 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches puts Roman Catholic membership at 62 million in this country. Southern Baptists are second with 15.8 million members, the yearbook reports.   The next-closest is the United Methodist Church at almost 8.4 million.   Those figures represent little change from the previous yearbook. Indeed, most of United States and Canadian recorded membership gains or loses within a margin of 1 percent during that time.   That shows a steadying of declines as high as 3 percent or 4 percent in some mainline denominations a decade ago.   Catholics recorded a membership gain of 0.6 percent in 1999, the annual report indicated. Southern Baptists came in at 0.7 percent. Assemblies of God … [Read more...]

Doy Cave New Orleans Seminary Southern Baptists could learn a great deal from rival, false gospels who are creating missionaries and subsequent converts at an alarming rate, Phil Roberts said. For instance, through daunting missionary efforts, Jehovah’s Witnesses have grown to 5 million, 4 million of whom live outside the United States, Roberts said. Southern Baptists could learn a great deal from rival, false gospels who are creating missionaries and subsequent converts at an alarming rate, Phil Roberts said. For instance, through daunting missionary efforts, Jehovah’s Witnesses have grown to 5 million, 4 million of whom live outside the United States, Roberts said. Even more impressive is the growth rate of the Mormon church, up 1,000 percent in the last 40 years and still growing through its aggressive missions efforts, he said. "Since the Second World War, when there were only a few thousand missionaries, (Mormon missionaries) have grown to over 50,000," said Roberts, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a former interfaith witness leader for Southern Baptists. "These missionaries now produce 300,000 converts ... each year. "This does not mean that they produce converts from … [Read more...]