Many people know her name. Few know her story. WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – Many people know her name. Few know her story. The remarkable life of Charlotte “Lottie” Moon was recounted by Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Every December, the memory of Lottie Moon is honored by Southern Baptists when a worldwide missions offering is taken in her name, to be given to the cause of carrying Christ’s name to the nations. “I have no doubt, having spent many months in her biography and letters, that Miss Lottie would be both amazed and embarrassed at all the fuss that is made about her each year by Southern Baptists,” Akin said. However, more than $2.8 billion has been raised in her name for missions. Nearly 120 years after she first urged Southern Baptists to raise more than $3,000 to send three missionaries to China, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering grew to a gift of more than $150 million dollars in 2006. “Hers was not a perfect life, no doubt,” Akin said. “It was, however, a powerful life, a life lived for King Jesus and a life worthy of our careful study and attention.” Akin said his study led to four lessons that Lottie Moon’s life exemplifies. Moon lived a grateful life, a total life, … [Read more...]

Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid and multiplicative increase of churches planting churches within a given population segment or people group. Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid and multiplicative increase of churches planting churches within a given population segment or people group. Missions International has recently researched movements in three countries with the following number of surveys of church planters in each country: 542 Surveys from a church planting movement of 400,000 858 Surveys from a CPM that is growing by 100,000 a month 507 Surveys from a movement of over 1 Million converts Our research revealed Seven Components that drive a CPM. Almost all focus on the equipping process and the expectations for new believers. Missions International is offering training for church planters and missionaries who would like to start a CPM anywhere on earth. From the Church Planting Booklet... So, what is a Church Planting Movement? A simple, concise definition of a Church Planting Movement (CPM) is: a rapid and multiplicative increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment. There are several key components to this … [Read more...]

By the NUMBERS 5,338 Field personnel under appointment (11/07/07) 4,211 Career/associates /apprentices 1,127 2-year International Service Corps/journeymen/masters 758 Field personnel appointed 2006 6,100 Student volunteers 2006 609,968 Overseas baptisms 2007 157,890 Overseas churches 2007 9.9 million Overseas church membership 2007* 25,497 New churches 2007* 1,140 People groups engaged 5,924 People groups of the Last Frontier 1.6 billion Population of the Last Frontier peoples 6.6 billion World population 2006 $150.2 million Lottie Moon Christmas Offering receipts for Christmas 2006 $165 million Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal for Christmas 2007 $304.8 million International Mission Board budget for 2008 $6 million World Hunger/Disaster Relief 2006 receipts $6 million   … [Read more...]

OAK GROVE – First Baptist is hosting an Evening of Celebration at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, with a Christian concert by Christian rock band Two Empty Chairs. A challenge from actor Jason McLeod of “Facing the Giants” is to be presented also. The event is sponsored by the Bayou Macon Association. Admission is $3 each, $5 for a family, or free for DiscipleshipNow Weekend participants. Carl Gulde is pastor. Kevin Miles is associate pastor/youth minister. Jay Morgan is director of missions. OAK GROVE – The BCM of Louisiana Tech is to lead small groups for a DiscipleshipNow Weekend at First Baptist at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Jan. 4 to Jan. 6. Carl Gulde is pastor. Kevin Inman is BCM Director at Louisiana Tech University. Jay Morgan is director of missions. DENHAM SPRINGS – The 2008 Eastern Louisiana Baptist Associational Women’s Conference is set for 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Calvary Baptist. Guest speaker is Patty Hankins of Alexandria. Nursery is to be provided. Registration of $20 is due by Jan. 4. Contact Michelle Miller at 225.937.0195 or xanderandre@cox.net for registration. DENHAM SPRINGS – Several courses to be offered at Calvary Baptist beginning Sunday, Jan. … [Read more...]

Joe McKeever has produced a set of cartoons on the Winter Bible Study Again, this year, Joe McKeever has produced a set of cartoons on the Winter Bible Study, which is Paul’s Epistle to the Romans this year. These cartoons are free of charge and available atwww.joemckeever.com. They may be reproduced and used any way the teacher/preacher chooses ,other than publishing them in book form.   … [Read more...]

COMINGS, GOINGS Ryann (wife Diana) Cooper, new as minister to youth and families at First Baptist, DeRidder. Randy Butler, new as music director at Downsville Baptist, Downsville. Jessie J. Charpentier Sr., new as pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist, St. Martinville. William “Bill” Pianki, new as associate pastor of youth and young adult ministries at Colyell Baptist, Livingston, from First Baptist, DeRidder. Mark (wife Michele) Wilson, new as student minister and associate pastor at First Baptist, Monroe. Brian Lee, resigned as associate pastor of youth and recreation at First Baptist, Vidalia. NEEDED A full-time maintenance technician and part-time housekeeper and food service worker are needed at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. Call 318.445.6797. Associate pastor of youth and recreation needed at First Baptist, Vidalia. Call 318.336.7111. Part-time, full-time and flexible hour childcare assistants are needed at East Leesville Baptist, Leesville. Interviews are to be held January 10. Call 337.239.3733. AVAILABLE A free piano is to be given to a mission church or any church. Contact First Baptist, Haynesville, at 318.624.0214. REVIVALS HAYNESVILLE – First … [Read more...]

When it comes to maintaining a vital relationship with the Lord, Sunday School leaders never graduate from the spiritual disciplines prescribed through the ages for all Christians NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) –When it comes to maintaining a vital relationship with the Lord, Sunday School leaders never graduate from the spiritual disciplines prescribed through the ages for all Christians: praising God and hearing His Word in corporate worship; praying to the Father and reading His Word in daily devotions; allowing the Holy Spirit to work through our spiritual gifts to minister to others; obeying Jesus by witnessing to His love and sharing the Good News of eternal and abundant life in Him; and gathering with other believers for fellowship. You could add other disciplines to this list. But there are some disciplines unique to the effective Sunday School leader. Here are a few: Continuous preparation The Sunday session always goes better when you start preparing early in the week. That may mean simply reading the Scripture passage on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, and perhaps glancing at the teaching materials, especially the teaching aim. There are obvious reasons to do this, but there are also some less obvious ones. By … [Read more...]

Football rates a mere fourth on his list of priorities behind God, family and academics.  NEW YORK (BP) – Football rates a mere fourth on his list of priorities behind God, family and academics. Even so, in New York City Dec. 8 Tim Tebow became the first college sophomore to win the famed Heisman Trophy in the 70-plus years of the award. The University of Florida quarterback was a finalist along with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel. The trophy is one of the most prestigious individual awards in all of sports. “I’d just like to first start off by thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave me the ability to play football and gave me a great family and a support group and great coaches and everything around me,” a breathless Tebow said at the ceremony, moments after the award was announced. Going on to thank teammates, high school coaches, his parents and siblings, Tebow repeated thanks to Jesus Christ and drew laughter when pledging his love for his chosen school for the third time. “I love the University of Florida, I love being a Gator. I love Gator Nation,” Tebow said. A graduate of Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Tebow helped … [Read more...]

More than 700 leaders from 41 state conventions, LifeWay Christian Resources and the North American Mission Board met Dec. 3-6 with the goal of finding more effective ways to partner in the effort to reach North America for Christ.  NASHVILLE (BP) – More than 700 leaders from 41 state conventions, LifeWay Christian Resources and the North American Mission Board met Dec. 3-6 with the goal of finding more effective ways to partner in the effort to reach North America for Christ. Leaders from both the state conventions and SBC entities acknowledged the urgency Southern Baptists face as North America drifts toward a more secular mindset and becomes more spiritually diverse. “This is not your father’s North America,” NAMB President Geoff Hammond told attendees at the 2007 SBC State Conventions’ Summit. “What used to be a melting pot has become a mixing pot. Cities like New York have 500 people groups represented. As Southern Baptists, having engaged only 35 of those groups is not enough.” Hammond called the meeting “historic,” saying Southern Baptist forefathers would have expected today’s Baptists to work together, even in the midst of different ministry responsibilities. “Every partnership has some walls,” he said. “My … [Read more...]

The Cooperative Program and First Baptist Church in Tehuacana, Texas, were started in 1925 – and both continue to serve as beacons of God’s light throughout the world. TEHUACANA, Texas (BP) –The Cooperative Program and First Baptist Church in Tehuacana, Texas, were started in 1925 – and both continue to serve as beacons of God’s light throughout the world. “We have a strong belief in missions,” said Dale McDaniel, First Baptist’s pastor. “We feel that by our giving we who cannot go into all the world can send those who can.” The church gives at least 10 percent of its undesignated offerings through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ cornerstone method of shared support for missions work state by state and around the world. In addition to its CP Missions commitment, the church also sends similar sums to the Bi-Stone Baptist Association for cooperative local Southern Baptist missions endeavors and to a nearby youth camp. At the same time, First Baptist focuses on local ministry, fellowship and community needs. It often does so in cooperation with the local Methodist church and with trustees of the Westminster University campus, now in restoration as an academic institution. One joint project was outdoor … [Read more...]