Less than 18 months ago, Harbor Lights Baptist Church in northwest Georgia had a for sale sign on the outside and eight discouraged members on the inside. LAFAYETTE, Ga., (BP) – Less than 18 months ago, Harbor Lights Baptist Church in northwest Georgia had a for sale sign on the outside and eight discouraged members on the inside. Today, the 68 people attending the church are anything but discouraged, after a revival meeting – initially scheduled for four days – extended to a total of 12 days, with 29 people making professions of faith in Christ. “I’ve never experienced anything quite like this,” said vocational evangelist Mark Yoho, the revival preacher. “It was a God-sent revival, definitely.” “It wasn’t a normal revival, that’s for sure,” said Jim Powell, bivocational pastor of the church, located on the outskirts of LaFayette, a town of 6,700 people. “It was an amazing thing,” Yoho recalled. “The presence of God was so strong. People were lying flat on the floor just weeping all over the house when the revival broke.” “I watched during the invitation as deacons laid their Bibles down on the altar and led people to Jesus,” Powell said. Another deacon whose job is 40 miles from the church repeatedly asked … [Read more...]
King’s legacy shared at conference
In a first-ever event, the Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon to begin the state’s annual evangelism conference. About 100 people – blacks and whites in roughly equal numbers – participated. PINEVILLE – In a first-ever event, the Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted a Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon to begin the state’s annual evangelism conference. About 100 people – blacks and whites in roughly equal numbers – participated. At the same time, in Jena, La., less than 40 miles away, the news media reported that two dozen white supremacists, perhaps a dozen purported Black Panthers and respective supporters of both groups marched in the small town that was in the national spotlight last summer as the site of a media-driven civil rights march, that march drew perhaps 20,000 people. Despite vitriolic speech and even loaded shotguns – as reported by the secular media – only one person was arrested in Jena and, in Pineville, no mention was made at the MLK luncheon of the Jena events. E. Edwards Jones Sr., pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Shreveport for 49 years, was the luncheon’s guest speaker. Jones was a civil rights activist who in 1966 led a seven-year battle to desegregate the … [Read more...]
Is your candidate mean enough to be president?
Back in August, Newsweek magazine assessed the presidential prospects of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and concluded his primary problem is that he seems “too nice” to turn aside a whole field of hard-knuckle Republicans and then Hillary Clinton on the way to the White House. Back in August, Newsweek magazine assessed the presidential prospects of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and concluded his primary problem is that he seems “too nice” to turn aside a whole field of hard-knuckle Republicans and then Hillary Clinton on the way to the White House. Whether one supports Huckabee or someone else, Newsweek’s question was a good one, and one as old as Christianity. Take Huckabee off the table, along with the question of whether his perceived “niceness” is the fruit of the Spirit or small-town southern manners or his own niche political strategy. I know what Newsweek means: personal character isn’t enough to swim through the piranha waters of American politics. “Niceness” is just shorthand for Newsweek that Huckabee doesn’t seem to have the consuming ambition needed to go all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue. That’s why, in the article, some wise voices turned the question away from niceness to fundraising benchmarks … [Read more...]
Tuesday speakers preach on passion
When Jonathan Forester MD of Pineville took time away from his busy medical practice to attend the 2008 Evangelism Conference, he heard the precariousness of Tuesday afternoon speaker Sammy Gilbreath’s life. PINEVILLE – When Jonathan Forester MD of Pineville took time away from his busy medical practice to attend the 2008 Evangelism Conference, he heard the precariousness of Tuesday afternoon speaker Sammy Gilbreath’s life. “It’s a very serious condition,” Forester said after the session about Gilbreath’s heart ailment. “He could have died any moment, even when he was speaking up there.” Because he is living proof, Gilbreath had his audience’s attention, but it took awhile before they caught his passion. Living with passion begins by learning the value of the promise of life, Gilbreath said. He spoke of the joy of a child with a new puppy or kitten, of the father of a newborn child, and in the same sentence, continued with “I don’t see many people getting excited about new life in the Kingdom of God. “There is no greater joy than taking the word of God and sharing it with someone, and seeing them come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord,” Gilbreath said, and the after-lunch audience responded with silence. … [Read more...]
White lights a first for Louisiana College
Brilliant on every level. Brilliant in planning, in development and in presentation. PINEVILLE – Brilliant on every level. Brilliant in planning, in development and in presentation. That was the Thursday – repeated Friday – production of “Follow the Star” on the Louisiana College campus. Thousands upon thousands – 10 cases, with eight sets per case – of twinkling white lights crawled up trees, slinked across massive oak boughs, and dotted shrubbery around the campus circle. It was the first time ever that the campus was lighted, said Tim Johnson, LC vice president for institutional advancement. The brilliance of the lights – which started on the boulevard at the front entrance to the campus – provided a glittering first impression to the evocative evening, which itself was the opening of a multi-event weekend featuring former First Lady Barbara Bush. See the center spread of the Dec. 20 issue of the Louisiana Baptist Message for the full story of Louisiana College’s gift to its community. Children’s choirs from three area churches Thursday – and adult choirs and soloists Friday – provided seasonal entertainment at “Follow the Star,” which about 700 people, mostly from the Alexandria/Pineville community, listened … [Read more...]
YEC event captures attention
Nearly 4,300 teenagers swarmed the Rapides Coliseum Thanksgiving week for the 20th annual Youth Evangelism Conference. ALEXANDRIA – Nearly 4,300 teenagers swarmed the Rapides Coliseum Thanksgiving week for the 20th annual Youth Evangelism Conference. It’s an event constantly evolving to keep up with the lost culture leaders want to reach, churched youth dealing with the same teen angst as their nonchurched friends, and the youth leaders who week-in and week-out minister to teens, said Kevin Boles, director of youth ministries strategies for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “In these days and time it takes a lot to keep teenagers’ attention,” Boles said. Three separate production companies – video, audio and equipment – work behind the scenes at YEC to ensure a high-energy, richly-textured environment in which teens are challenged, equipped and encouraged to live the faith they profess. “YEC is a great mid-year shot-in-the-arm,” Boles said. “After summer camp, there’s a lull as the school year kicks off. Then there’s YEC. “Beyond those kids making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we want to help the churched kids see that the kid sitting next to them in biology or chemistry needs … [Read more...]
Baptist churches, relief group, come to evacuees’ aid
A disaster no matter the size is still a disaster when it affects people’s lives. CHOUDRANT – A disaster no matter the size is still a disaster when it affects people’s lives. Two weeks ago, Nov. 26, more than 40 homes were hastily evacuated when 11 cars of a westbound Kansas City Southern train derailed near the Lincoln Parish line between the north-central Louisiana communities of Choudrant and Calhoun. The accident took place along a rural stretch of track just off U.S. 80, separated from the highway by a bank of trees, according to a release by Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone. Three of the tanker cars left the track but managed to stay on the rail bed. The other two tankers left the track, slid down an embankment and settled in a V-shape among the trees next to the road. Upon discovering the five derailed tankers were carrying butadiene, a highly flammable, butane-like substance, emergency personnel immediately cleared a 1/2-mile radius around the accident. While early reports indicated the presence of noxious gases, that was later found to be inaccurate. The danger was from the potential for fire. If the butadiene had ignited and exploded, it was capable of incinerating everything in a 1.5 mile radius, … [Read more...]
Letter to the Editor
God’s word, Spirit sufficient to capture souls of the lost The seeker–friendly churches do indeed draw crowds of curious people. But how many are saved and stay and grow spiritually? Crowds flocked to Jesus but many turned away after the miracles and wonders ceased. I agree with Bob Burneys’ article [Willow Creek’s Sobering Confession, Nov. 15] however, he left out another man that has led this movement in many Southern Baptist churches – Rick Warren. I have a friend in California that saw churches split and hearts broken by the Purpose Driven movement. When the early disciples went out they depended on Gods’ Word and His Spirit to win the lost. In the last few decades the Church has left the Word and began ‘marketing’ the Gospel like Wall Street promotes new products. Someone started a rumor about a great end–time revival and men have been trying to bring it to pass. God alone can bring revival and there hasn’t been one truly powerful one in this generation. Christianity is under a great spiritual attack from without and within. When Paul wrote to Timothy he said the time will come when people will turn away from the truth. II Timothy 3:5 says that people would one day be characterized as “having a form of … [Read more...]
Lofton: Retirees can still ‘bear fruit’ for God
The annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention each year spawns several affinity group gatherings. ALEXANDRIA – The annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention each year spawns several affinity group gatherings. A perennial favorite is the luncheon provided by the LBC Pastoral Ministry Team for those people now retired from vocational ministry. The event this year took place at Emmanuel Baptist, where the kitchen staff prepared a succulent meal of brisket, home-made rolls and several vegetables, plus a variety of desserts. After background keyboarding by LBC Music Strategist Randy Turner, and welcomes given by Director Bill Robertson and Bivocational/Small Church Strategist Gary Mitchell, Pat Lofton brought a few words on “Bearing fruit in the fourth quarter.” Lofton is a retired director of missions now living in Epps. “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age,” Lofton read from Psalm 92. Since the average life span in America today for a person is about 75 years, the first quarter of life might be said to be from birth to age 20, Lofton said. Giving two decades to each quarter, people more than 80 might be considered to be in overtime, he added. “You might want to get on the bench and … [Read more...]
Christmas bazaar makes global impact
The Ladies Auxiliary at Pineville Grace Baptist work six months or more each year developing items for their annual Christmas Bazaar. PINEVILLE – The Ladies Auxiliary at Pineville Grace Baptist work six months or more each year developing items for their annual Christmas Bazaar. Wall decorations, ornaments, jewelry, ceramics, gardening baskets, quilted aprons, baked goods, jelly, pralines and much more, are offered for three hours the first Saturday in December, or as long as supplies last. The event, which started in 1993, is to raise money for missions, said Stephanie Aycock, president of the auxiliary. Forty percent of the proceeds go to missions through the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, said Debbie Jones, secretary/treasurer. The rest is scattered among several of the church’s mission interests: Community Health Works, a young girl at an orphanage in VietNam, needy families, Doll and Toy Fund, Main Street Mission, school supplies, food drive, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and more. Each year the income from the bazaar rises, and the Ladies Auxiliary is able to do more than in previous years. In 2006, $2,000 was raised. No word yet on what came in last weekend. Leon Hyatt is … [Read more...]
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