"I’ve been doing child abuse and sexual assault cases for 20 years and I have never seen anything like this,” Sgt. Dan Scott of the Santa Monica sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau told the Los Angeles Times recently. "I’ve been doing child abuse and sexual assault cases for 20 years and I have never seen anything like this,” Sgt. Dan Scott of the Santa Monica sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau told the Los Angeles Times recently. What is it that has so shocked the veteran California police officer? It is the behavior of a man by the name of Jack McClellan. McClellan, according to the Times report, is a pedophile who is forthright and outspoken  about his sexual attraction to little girls. McCellan has appeared on news programs and talk shows to discuss his proclivity. He even had a website (now down) that listed the best places to watch little girls. “Being a pedophile – an adult who is sexually interested in children – is not illegal,” the Times report stated. “Acting on that interest by touching a child for the adult’s sexual gratification is illegal.” As far as authorities are concerned, there is no evidence that McClellan has ever acted upon his perverse desire. The Times reported he “has no arrest or conviction … [Read more...]

The saying goes, “A rose by any other name is a rose,” but I have a corollary I’d like to offer: “You can call a dead fish a rose, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a dead fish.” The saying goes, “A rose by any other name is a rose,” but I have a corollary I’d like to offer: “You can call a dead fish a rose, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a dead fish.” This analogy came to mind  as I caught some recent commercials about shows in ABC Family’s lineup of programming. Two in particular – “Greek” and “Slacker Cats” – seemed to punctuate with an exclamation point ABC Family’s newest tagline, “a new kind of family.” “Greek” is not a docudrama about Aristotle Onassis, but a raunchy series about college life, with gratuitous emphasis on binge drinking and sex combined in an atmosphere of crudities. It portrays the next generation in negative stereotypes, not at all reflective of so many young people whose lives are not one continuous foray into self-gratification. Network officials seem to think nothing says “family” like watching actors depict collegians drinking body shots. Then there is the animated “Slacker Cats.” As I write this, I have only the promotional trailers to judge, but it is clear from ABC … [Read more...]

Drive north from Alexandria on Highway 167 through the piney woods for about an hour and you’ll find yourself in Winnfield. JACKSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Drive north from Alexandria on Highway 167 through the piney woods for about an hour and you’ll find yourself in Winnfield. Another 30 minutes north through more timberland brings you to Jonesboro, population just under 4,000, the largest town in Jackson Parish, population just over 15,000. Not surprisingly, forestry is Jackson’s major industry, with the Smurfit-Stone paper mill in Hodge, Jonesboro’s sister city just to the north, being their largest employer.   “We’re not a rich parish by any stretch of the imagination,” said director of missions Clovis Sturdivant. “The median household income is about $28,000, while the national average is about $42,000. But any time we need something, the 24 Southern Baptist churches in Jackson Baptist Association come through.” “The beauty of the association right now is that every church has a pastor and they are all doing well. The vast majority of them are growing,” said the director. Jackson is holding its 84th annual associational meeting in October. Some 15 of those churches have fulltime pastors, with the remainder served by … [Read more...]

“I could see it in his eyes,” said Russell Evitt, a deacon at First Baptist Williston, N.D. “He got it.” STURGIS, S.D. – “I could see it in his eyes,” said Russell Evitt, a deacon at First Baptist Williston, N.D. “He got it.” What Daniel Buie, a biker from Gardner, Kan., ‘got’ was a heart-level understanding of God’s love for him and His desire to have a relationship with Buie. He got that because Evitt gave a few days out of his life in early August to share his testimony at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. “Russell didn’t tell me anything new,” Buie said, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Others have told me about the same thing, but today – today – he got to me; he connected with me. Today, I got it!” ‘It’ is a life-changing faith in and relationship with God. Evitt was one of about 150 volunteers from across the nation to participate in the second annual Sturgis intentional evangelism event hosted by the Dakota Baptist Convention, in partnership with several state conventions and the North American Mission Board. Buie was one of nearly 900 people to make a profession of faith in God as a result of the volunteers simply sharing, for three minutes each time, their personal stories of the difference God had made in … [Read more...]

Grammy and Dove award-winning vocalist Michael W. Smith is to perform in concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at First Lafayette. Tickets are available by calling 337.233.1412. LAFAYETTE – Grammy and Dove award-winning vocalist Michael W. Smith is to perform in concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at First Lafayette. Tickets are available by calling 337.233.1412. Nationally-known family humorist Charles Petty is to speak at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the church. “Dr. Petty is known for helping people achieve success in balancing work and family,” reports Dennis Clark, media minister at the church. “He uses humor to help people understand the relationship of family life and job performance.” Often compared with motivational speakers such as Zig Ziglar and Art Linkletter, Petty has spoken humorously of family success principles for 20 years. Petty’s appearance is to conclude a four-week family emphasis at First Lafayette. Susan Emerson is new as principal of First Baptist Christian School, a ministry of First Baptist Lafayette. Enrollment is at an all-time high, Clark reported. Additional Pre-K and Kindergarten classes were added for the 2007-08 school year. Enrollment is still open. FBCS opened in 1985. Emerson is its third … [Read more...]

The executive boards of the mostly rural Delta and Ouachita Baptist Associations recently voted to go their separate ways. EAST CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – The executive boards of the mostly rural Delta and Ouachita Baptist Associations recently voted to go their separate ways. Before the action becomes official, however, each association must approve it by a two-thirds majority vote of members gathered at their respective annual meetings in October. Working together since 1981 under the umbrella organization East Central Baptist Association, where Ken Gilmore is director of missions, the executive boards met in a join session Aug. 7 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Ridgecrest. They voted unanimously to dissolve East Central Baptist Association and operate independently. A six-person committee – three from either association – was elected and charged with recommending an equitable distribution of assets. Primary assets include the associational office, a vehicle used by the director of missions, and office equipment. Ouachita Baptist Association formed in 1844; Delta, in 1944. The two associations, plus LaSalle Baptist Association, shared an associational missionary (now known as a director of missions) starting in … [Read more...]

Camp USA is one aspect of a 40-year connection between Louisiana and South Korea. Camp USA is one aspect of a 40-year connection between Louisiana and South Korea. In late July, 37 South Korean children and their chaperones visited Louisiana as a part of Camp USA 2007. The two-week activity is sponsored by the Cenla/Korea Missions Partnership and the Korea Baptist Church Development Board – equivalent to Southern Baptist’s’ LifeWay Christian Resources. While in Louisiana, the children attended vacation Bible school, lived with local Baptist families, received English language instruction, learned about American culture and experienced local attractions – such as making the acquaintance of a unique Louisianian native: an alligator. Twelve of the Korean children made professions of faith during Camp USA. The Partnership plans an evangelistic mission trip to Korea in late October. Space available. Call David Cranford, pastor of Tioga First Baptist, for details: 318.640.4760. … [Read more...]

WINNSBORO – Youthquake Mission: Possible sponsored by Deer Creek Association and youth at Temple Baptist  is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at Temple Baptist through Saturday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m. for Franklin Parish students grades 7-12. Registration is $12. The worship leaders are The Carey Amos Band and Jordy Mackaskal, speaker. Wina Elrod is minister to students at Temple church. NATCHITOCHES – First Baptist is to host a Ladies Fall Fellowship at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. for ladies from across the District Eight area.  Special guests scheduled are Sheila Breazeale, Bible study leader; Jinny Henson, Christian comedian; Kathy McGrath, pianist; Denise Clayton and Stacy Alford, singers. For information, call 318.352.4090. Deadline for registration is Aug. 25. The registration fee is $10 and will include a catered lunch. Lee Dickson is director of missions. SLIDELL – Grace Memorial Baptist’s senior high youth have scheduled a canoe trip, Saturday, Aug. 25. Bob Heustess is pastor. LAKE CHARLES – John Stagg has compiled a directory of cowboy churches of Louisiana, which is available at www.baptistmissioncenter.com by clicking on the Happy Heavenly Trails link. Praise reports, events or prayer concerns may be posted on … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS  Jason Lupo to Lamar Baptist in Delhi as pastor from Greenlaw Baptist in Kentwood. Marty Romero is interim pastor at Bayou L’Ourse Baptist.  Sam Gentry is pastor of First Baptist Belle Chasse. He comes from Missouri. NEEDED  Lake St. John Community Baptist Ferriday has a paid pianist position available. Contact Karl Wilson, pastor, at 318.757.0947 for information.   Calumet Baptist Patterson, Community Baptist Lafayette, Jenkins Memorial Baptist St. Martinville and Northside Baptist Lafayette need pastors.  Judson Baptist Baton Rouge has paid positions available for a maintenance employee and two nursery workers. Call 504.665.5481.  Jefferson Baptist has an opening for a janitorial employee. Call 225.923.0356. CONCERTS AND RELATED EVENTS  BATON ROUGE – The Goodwood Baptist Dulcimer group is to present an evening of music at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28.  MONROE – Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home Day is scheduled for First Baptist beginning with Sunday school at 9:15 a.m., Aug. 26. Activities will include Matt Hancock, Michael Howell and Brandon White in concert at the 6 p.m. service. Lunch for LBCH children and staff will be served with a watermelon-cutting following the evening … [Read more...]

Think about a director of missions and the image may come to mind of a quiet pastor who answers the telephone during the day and goes home to read at night. JACKSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION – Think about a director of missions and the image may come to mind of a quiet pastor who answers the telephone during the day and goes home to read at night. That won’t be the DOM of the Jackson Baptist Association in north-central Louisiana. “I’ve had people tell me, ‘If I had a shotgun looking to shoot a preacher, I’d walk right by you,’” DOM Clovis Sturdivant explained.  “That may be a compliment, considering the stereotype that many people have about preachers…that’s not very good.” His grandmother who raised him said, “Be yourself – people will like you or they won’t like you.”  That’s who Sturdivant has been over the years.  “It’s a lot easier to be me than it is to be somebody else,” he said. He continued, “And Clovis Sturdivant is someone who’s going to be involved.   I’ve been a member of the Lions Club and of the Kiwanis Club.  But serving in two parishes, it’s hard to make the meetings and I’ve had to drop out.” He was also one of the disaster relief chaplains for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  They were down in the … [Read more...]