Financial contributions to churches were up as a portion of income in 2005 when church members gave 2.58 percent of their income, up from 2.56 percent the previous year, according to a report by empty tomb, inc. that examined the giving trends of church members in the United States. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Financial contributions to churches were up as a portion of income in 2005 when church members gave 2.58 percent of their income, up from 2.56 percent the previous year, according to a report by empty tomb, inc. that examined the giving trends of church members in the United States. An analysis of the 2005 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey revealed that giving to “church, other religious organizations” accounted for 72 percent of funds directed to charity. That makes religious groups the largest recipient by U.S. region, age and income brackets, empty tomb said, suggesting that religious values are the chief motivation for most charitable giving. Also, the under-25 age group gave 87 percent of their donations to “church, religious organizations,” which may indicate that religious teachings form philanthropic values in the United States, empty tomb said in an Oct. 3 news release. The … [Read more...]

Most Americans would agree there’s enough negative news about the Iraq war. But then there’s SPC Victor Rosario Rivera – Puerto Rican, American soldier in Iraq, Christian, Southern Baptist.  BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BP) – Most Americans would agree there’s enough negative news about the Iraq war. But then there’s SPC Victor Rosario Rivera – Puerto Rican, American soldier in Iraq, Christian, Southern Baptist. For the last year, Rosario, 37, has served as an information system maintainer/operator with the 1-89 Cavalry, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at Camp Stryker in Baghdad. English is his second language. While Iraqi insurgent sniper bullets zip by and IED’s explode on the streets of Baghdad, Rosario focuses on keeping U.S. Army computers, networks and Internet satellite services up and humming. When he’s not doing that, he’s sharing Christ, the Bible and his faith with his Spanish-speaking buddies. Rosario came to the attention of the North American Mission board staff in Alpharetta, Ga., recently when he e-mailed NAMB requesting permission to use a logo for the fliers he prints and distributes to promote his Bible study for fellow Hispanic servicemen in Iraq. Permission granted. In a response to a NAMB staff member, … [Read more...]

The weather may have kept the attendance down, but it couldn’t prevent the small army of volunteers from doing God’s work. ALEXANDRIA – The weather may have kept the attendance down, but it couldn’t prevent the small army of volunteers from doing God’s work. Over the three-day weekend, hundreds of volunteers, many from local churches, took to the sidewalks, the streets, the parks, and the playgrounds to pass out Bibles, tracts and plans of salvation to all those who attended. And while the numbers are still being crunched, Kevin Roberts, associate pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Deville, said early estimates are 300 plus people made professions of faith at the various events.  “I was a little disappointed in the weather, because we had to cancel the block party in Pineville on Saturday, and the Freedom Fest ended on a wet note this evening. But despite the rain, spirits are still high because of the number of decisions made this weekend.” There were 167 professions of faith (the most of any event over the weekend) at Real Encounter, where motorcyclists and skateboarders performed some breathtaking stunts before a large, appreciative audience in a packed parking lot at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. A NAMB-sponsored … [Read more...]

When the monthly accounts closed for October, the business office of the Louisiana Baptist Convention announced the highest level of Cooperative Program giving for any October in the history of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. ALEXANDRIA—When the monthly accounts closed for October, the business office of the Louisiana Baptist Convention announced the highest level of Cooperative Program giving for any October in the history of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. The LBC business office reported October undesignated giving to the Cooperative Program was $2,188,553.70. By comparison, $1,637,442.63 was given during the same month in 2006. “About the middle of the month we saw a trend emerging,” business administrator Dale Lingenfelter said. “Then as we closed for the month, we were humbled by the generous missionary spirit of Louisiana Baptist churches.” During the first 10 months of 2007, the LBC accounting office has received  $18,502,819.23 in undesignated Cooperative Program giving which is a 5.18 percent increase over the same 10-month period in 2006. “The record increase this month and the growth in the first ten months of 2007 is a testimony of local churches understanding the heartbeat of God,” David E. Hankins … [Read more...]

When all reports are in, perhaps 1,500 people here will have made professions of faith in Jesus during the recent Louisiana/Korea crusade. SEOUL, South Korea – When all reports are in, perhaps 1,500 people here will have made professions of faith in Jesus during the recent Louisiana/Korea crusade. Eight churches reported in with 438 professions of faith by the time of the Nov. 5 “Victory Dinner,” which took place at the largest Baptist Church in Seoul, where Young Min Pee is pastor. “The state of Louisiana was one of the best states to help Korea, with much fruit,” Pee said as  he welcomed about 100 Americans and Koreans to the Victory Dinner, including Young Sik You, executive director of the Korean Baptist Convention, and Choon Sik Choe, president of the Korea Baptist Convention. A missionary with the International Mission Board translated from and to English/Korean. The evening’s high points included short messages from outgoing Crusade Coordinator Charles Lowry of First Baptist Pineville, and from Executive Director Yoo of Korea, as well as testimonies from American team members and Korean churches. The 38 Americans – including eight who were staying on a third week to help make up for a significant shortfall … [Read more...]

The strong but pleasant smell of old leather and parchment fills the rare books room in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s John T. Christian Library. Shelf after shelf of ancient books and documents line the walls of this long narrow room.  NEW ORLEANS (BP) – The strong but pleasant smell of old leather and parchment fills the rare books room in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s John T. Christian Library. Shelf after shelf of ancient books and documents line the walls of this long narrow room. Stepping into the room is a step back in time – into the world of Reformers and the dawn of the printing press. It’s also a step back to the earlier days of the seminary when the library’s namesake, John T. Christian, donated the collection shortly before his death. Because they are so delicate, the books have rarely been seen, much less used. Though closed to the general public, the room has been the site of intense research since February. Last spring Ellen Middlebrook Herron, a Chicago-based scholar specializing in medieval history and rare books, spent four months carefully assessing and cataloging the collection. For years, library workers suspected that the collection was special, if not remarkable. … [Read more...]

Children at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home are provided with love, the best care, an opportunity for hope, and, foremost, their spiritual needs are taken care of. MONROE – Children at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home are provided with love, the best care, an opportunity for hope, and, foremost, their spiritual needs are taken care of. On Feb. 15, the children’s home will also be able to better take care of their education needs, because on that day, the home will celebrate the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art learning center. “This learning center will be a real investment in the future of the children,” Perry Hancock, the home’s executive director, said. “It will be the first time in 15 years we will finally be able to bring our multimedia and computer labs, educational library, and tutoring rooms all together under one roof. Right now, they are scattered all over our campus.” Fifteen years ago a fire destroyed the Home’s library, and since that time the children have had to make do. “For the first time in a long time, we will have a true educational resource library,” Hancock said. “The new facility will feature an expanded computer room and a big center room with tables and chairs that seats … [Read more...]

It was Benjamin Spock that told an entire generation of parents to take it easy, don’t discipline your children. Discipline, he said, would warp a child’s fragile ego. Millions followed his advice. However, before his death Dr. Spock made an amazing discovery: He was wrong. He said: COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – It was Benjamin Spock that told an entire generation of parents to take it easy, don’t discipline your children. Discipline, he said, would warp a child’s fragile ego. Millions followed his advice. However, before his death Dr. Spock made an amazing discovery: He was wrong. He said: “We have reared a generation of brats. Parents aren’t firm enough with their children for fear of losing their love or incurring their resentment. This is a cruel deprivation that we professionals have imposed on mothers and fathers. Of course, we did it with the best of intentions. We didn’t realize until it was too late how our know-it-all attitude was undermining the self assurance of parents.” Something just as momentous, in my opinion, has recently occurred in the evangelical community. For most of a generation evangelicals have been romanced by the “seeker-sensitive” movement spawned by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. The guru … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) – For the first time in my adult life, I have had to find a church home. ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) – For the first time in my adult life, I have had to find a church home. Everywhere else I’ve gone, I went as pastor. But now I look at the church from the pew instead of the pulpit. On many Sundays, I’ve thought about one particular former church member. He is a vice president for his global company. Only five companies worldwide do what his company does. He talks with major political leaders and meets with the top brass of the Army Corp of Engineers. In his extensive travel, he makes several multi-million dollar deals per year. Yet on Sundays, you might find him cleaning a commode or vacuuming a soiled area of carpeting. When I suggested we should change our terminology to refer to visitors as guests, he was the first to make those guests feel at home. He regularly left his circle of friends as soon as he spotted a guest he hadn’t met. Introducing himself and anyone who was a member sitting nearby, he would engage the guest in friendly conversation. Those who wondered why his Bible study class was growing when other classes were stagnant simply didn’t watch him make a newcomer feel at ease in the … [Read more...]

My son David is a sophomore at Louisiana College. He was recently involved in an automobile accident. My wife and I were pleasantly surprised when Louisiana College President Dr. Joe Aguillard arrived at Rapides Regional Hospital to pray with us. Also on the scene was Jeremy Huffman, David’s cross-country coach at LC. He took quite a bit of time to sit with David at the hospital. Numerous students followed suit.   Additionally, Dr. Aguillard called other LC staff and they began to make arrangements to help David, who had suffered a concussion and a broken foot. The staff could not have been more helpful. Dr. Peggy Pack of Student Development assisted us by discussing the issues David would face and also helped secure a wheelchair (she even offered to drive us to get it!).  The dorm staff at Tudor Hall helped David get into a first-floor room, so he could get in & out more easily.  Brandon Robin, Director of LC’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry, helped arrange students to wheel David around campus. Brandon himself was among the first to personally wheel David over to the BCM where LC students provided fellowship & encouragement as he began his recuperation. I want to publicly thank Dr. Aguillard as well as the … [Read more...]