In 2007, Baptists in America are celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of the formation of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, the first inter-congregational organization of Baptists in America. In 2007, Baptists in America are celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of the formation of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, the first inter-congregational organization of Baptists in America. I had the opportunity to visit with Baptists in Philadelphia earlier this year, where I was reminded of our long and splendid history of cooperation. Not that it has come easily. Baptists are firmly committed to the doctrine of the autonomy of the local church and enter into “ecclesiastical” relationships with caution.  It was clear at the formation of the first association (and all those since then) that the local church was not subservient to the association and could withdraw at any time it wished. Even with these assurances, some Baptist congregations have refused to join associations, fearing that the prerogatives and the programs of the local church would be usurped.  These congregations have remained “independent.” I’m thankful that most Baptists (especially Southern Baptists) have seen the value of … [Read more...]

Words like loneliness, isolation and alienation describe how many people feel about their existence. Words like loneliness, isolation and alienation describe how many people feel about their existence. We have become so transient that few people live near their nuclear family. We move so often that we find it challenging to make friends. The people around us are little more than anonymous acquaintances. Sounds depressing, doesn’t it? Yet the apparent loneliness and the need for fellowship provide one of the greatest opportunities for the church to advance the Kingdom. If people need and desire fellowship and the church is the only place where authentic fellowship can occur, then why are we failing to make the connection? Tragically, many people who have attended our churches indicate that they have not experienced fellowship. Exit interviews with those who have dropped out of church indicate that many left the church because they sensed that they didn’t belong and that no one cared about them. I am a guest in a different church nearly every week, and I know that most believers do care. How, then, do we express our concern in such a manner that those attending our church will experience genuine fellowship?  I … [Read more...]

The death of Jerry Falwell brings an end to one of the most fascinating lives of the 20th century. The death of Jerry Falwell brings an end to one of the most fascinating lives of the 20th century. In so many ways, Jerry Falwell became one of the most recognizable faces for conservative Christianity in America. In the late 1970s, Falwell became concerned about the moral state of the nation and was awakened to a sense of political and social responsibility. He began to speak to these issues, calling conservative Christians to become involved in the political process. As a 16-year-old boy, I was in the crowd at the convention center in Miami Beach when Dr. Falwell joined singer Anita Bryant in holding a rally to involve Christians in the struggle against a gay rights ordinance adopted by Dade County. I had never heard of Jerry Falwell until that night – and after that experience I would never forget him. As the 1980 presidential race approached, Jerry Falwell was one of the primary leaders of a movement intended to mobilize conservative Christians for the election. Dr. Falwell founded the Moral Majority as a means of educating and mobilizing Christian citizens about moral issues such as abortion – a key issue after the … [Read more...]

Thirty-six churches in this country atmosphere minister in all of the ways that churches anywhere minister to anybody, Asssociational Director of Missions Herb Dickerson says. NORTH RAPIDES ASSOCIATION – Thirty-six churches in this country atmosphere minister in all of the ways that churches anywhere minister to anybody, Asssociational Director of Missions Herb Dickerson says. Worship and discipling opportunities, care-giving when there is grief or distress among members of the community, fellowship, and most of all, sharing the gospel with lost people are a big part of life for these small churches in open country on the outskirts of Alexandria. “Basically what our association tries to do is work under four different hats,” Dickerson said. Those “hats” are ways to serve the local church, he said. Dickerson is intent on insuring that no pastor or staff worker in the association is without a friend, that no people group is without access to the gospel, that no church is without a vision, and that no God-called lay worker is without access to good training. The DOM does a lot of one-on-one mentoring and tutoring to insure that all pastors and staff in the association are equipped with not only the skills they need to … [Read more...]

Honors abound for Herb Dickerson, director of missions for the North Rapides Baptist Association as well as two others: Big Creek and Central Louisiana. PINEVILLE – Honors abound for Herb Dickerson, director of missions for the North Rapides Baptist Association as well as two others: Big Creek and Central Louisiana. The DOM has preached not only an annual meeting sermon for the state convention, but has also written four Sunday school quarterlies that have traveled the globe, he said. “It was an honor to be able to preach at the state convention before all my peers,” said Dickerson, who preached on doing more good than you know for the 1994 convention sermon. At the time he was pastor of First Jonesboro Baptist. Preaching isn’t his only skill. Dickerson has also written Sunday school lessons, he said. “I got all kinds of thank you notes from Africa, Canada, South America, and Central  America,” he said about the response to his writings. “I didn’t realize [the Sunday school quarterlies] went all over the world. It was gratifying to know that something I wrote was meaningful to people in different parts of the world.” In all, Dickerson wrote four Sunday school quarterlies on different books of the Bible, including … [Read more...]

Because of term limits that take effect this year along with regular end-of-term elections, the state is facing a colossal turnover in government. STATEWIDE  – Because of term limits that take effect this year along with regular end-of-term elections, the state is facing a colossal turnover in government.  Up for election are the positions of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, commissioners of agriculture and insurance, all eight members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, all 39 senatorial seats, all 105 seats in the House of Representatives as well as two district judges (districts 24 and 31).  “This year’s election is a strategic time for godly statesmen and stateswomen to step up to public service,” said John L. Yeats, LBC Communications Team director. “Term limits provides the opportunity for new people with fresh ideas and biblically based core values to make it into office. “I lived in a state [Oklahoma] that was controlled by a “good ole boys” network. Term limits help bring the voice and the values of the grassroots citizens to the forefront,” Yeats continued. “What we desperately need in Louisiana are state leaders who possess and make decisions … [Read more...]

LifeWay Christian Resources and Holman Bible Outreach International have teamed with Task Force Patriot USA, the U.S. Air Force, General Motors and Stone Mountain Park to sponsor a Memorial Day weekend tribute to active duty and veteran U.S. troops and their families. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – LifeWay Christian Resources and Holman Bible Outreach International have teamed with Task Force Patriot USA, the U.S. Air Force, General Motors and Stone Mountain Park to sponsor a Memorial Day weekend tribute to active duty and veteran U.S. troops and their families. “Task Force Patriot Salute to the Troops,” May 26-28 at the Atlanta-area Stone Mountain Park is expected to draw more than 100,000 people. Former SBC President Bobby Welch, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and author of You, The Warrior Leader, will be among the featured speakers. Welch recently was named strategist for global evangelical relations with the SBC Executive Committee. Holman Bible Outreach International will introduce its new paperback Holman CSB Military Bible and give away 3,000 copies to veterans and others during the weekend celebration. HBOI, an entity of LifeWay Christian Resources, functions as a Bible society to facilitate the distribution of … [Read more...]

Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Cutshall shouted at his wife and son as they looked for a parking space. When his son finally parked the pickup, Cutshall slammed the door and stalked across the parking lot. Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Cutshall shouted at his wife and son as they looked for a parking space. When his son finally parked the pickup, Cutshall slammed the door and stalked across the parking lot. “Within 15 or 20 steps, I knew what I’d done,” he recalls. “I knew they were sitting in the truck thinking, ‘They told us he’d be kookin’ out.’ And I’m thinking, ‘I was just in Iraq making life-and-death decisions. Now my family’s deadlocked over choosing a parking space.’” Cutshall couldn’t believe he was already lashing out. During the last year in Iraq, all he’d wanted to do was come home to be with his wife, LaDonna, and their two sons, Jim and Jeremiah. As a National Guard medic he’d seen death and destruction from all angles. Now, his family had picked him up at Fort Lewis, Wash., and he thought the nightmare was over. It wasn’t. Cutshall’s fight to reintegrate into civilian life was just beginning. Two years later, the 45-year-old veteran is back to being a husband, father, firefighter and wrestling coach. But he’s still coming … [Read more...]

This year’s Bible Drill had a total of 435 participants. Of those, 242 were Children’s Bible Drillers, 188 were Youth Bible Drillers, and five were Youth Speaker’s Tournament participants. ALEXANDRIA — This year’s Bible Drill had a total of 435 participants. Of those, 242 were Children’s Bible Drillers, 188 were Youth Bible Drillers, and five were Youth Speaker’s Tournament participants. Incentive: The first-place winner of the eleventh-grade youth speakers tournament wins a $4,500 scholarship to Louisiana College for four years. Second and third place in this category receive scholarships of $3,500 and $2,500 respectively, per year for four years,  Of the Children’s Bible Drillers, 136 competed at Louisiana College on May 5, along with the five youth speakers, and 106 competed elsewhere in the state at regional events.  Eight students won in four seventh grade groups: Alissa Clouse, Woodlawn Baptist, Baton Rouge; Julie Hinson, First Baptist Gonzales; Megan Desoto, East Winnfield Baptist, Joyce; Morgan Monk, Riverside Baptist, Denham Springs; Victoria Rutledge, Crossroads Baptist, Kenner; and Paul Vige’-Bible Baptist, DeQuincy.  Eight students also won in three eighth grade groups: Kimberly Landry, Riverside … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Among Louisiana College’s 155 graduates from four states and two other nations on May 12, 20 received a BS degree in nursing, and one of those, Sara Irene Jarrell of Anacoco, received a commission to the U.S. Army Nurses Corps. Another 82 graduates received a BA degree; 19 earned a non-nursing BS degree; five earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and nine graduated with a bachelor of general studies degree. MONTEREY – Brad Mount, a member at Lismore Baptist near Jonesville is an up-and-coming country gospel singer, with performance dates May 26 at Welcome Home Baptist Church in Winnfield and May 31 at Cross Trails Cowboy Church in Kilbourne. Listen to snippets of his down-home country voice at www.bradmount.com. A third annual golf tournament to benefit Mount’s Walking By Faith Ministries is set for June 2 at the Duncan Park Golf Course in Natchez, Miss. Cost is $85/person for a two-person scramble (includes green fee and cart) and a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Trophies for top three winners, and for everyone, a drawing for a 26-inch HD flat screen LCD TV. For more information email eddiewaltman@bellsouth.net or call 318.308.4684. COVINGTON – Pilgrim Rest Baptist needs a new building and the … [Read more...]