Comings and Goings George Treutlein is new as pastor at First Tullos from First Fort Jessup. Mark (wife Becky) Surber from Prestonwood, Plano, Texas, where he was pastor at a Prestonwood satellite in Prosper, Texas. John Elliott is new as pastor at Emmanuel Natchitoches from First Patterson. Beau Guidry is new minister of youth and education at First Longville, from minister to collegiates plus at First Lafayette. Tim Crabtree is new as minister of education and administrator for Calvary Baptist School, at Calvary Slidell. Reggie (wife Julie) Smith is new as pastor of Northside Slidell. East Central Baptist Association is accepting resumes for director of missions until June 8. Mail to Dan Glenn, moderator, 100 N. Hickory, Vidalia LA 71373. First Lafayette Spanish Mission seeks a pastor. Send resumes to First Lafayette Pastor Steve.horn@fbclaf.org or call 337-233-1412 for more information. Pauline Payne is retiring after 20 years as financial secretary at First Moss Bluff. Mary Dowden is new as children’s minister at Mulberry Houma. East Jena Baptist seeks a full-time minister of students. Send resumes to East Jena Baptist Church, Attn: Minister of Students Search Committee, PO Box 383, Jena LA … [Read more...]

Martha Bailey is someone you ought to know. Editor’s note: Following is an excerpt from a recent edition of the blog updated about twice a week by Joe McKeever, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. COVINGTON – Martha Bailey is someone you ought to know. But, unless you live on what is euphemistically called “New Orleans’ Northshore,” so you can drive to the First Baptist Church of Covington where her husband Waylon has been pastor for some 20 years or more, you may not have had the opportunity. Until now. She’s written a book. And I guarantee you that after reading it, you will feel that a) you know Martha Bailey and b) you like this lady. Some will recall that in December of 2005, the FBC of Covington hosted all our ministers and spouses for our annual Christmas banquet. They are not part of our association, being separated from us by 25 miles of Lake Pontchartrain, and they had taken massive damage from Hurricane Katrina themselves, but under the leadership of Waylon and Martha Bailey, the church did that banquet, did it first-class, and rolled out the red carpet for nearly 200 of our folks. Not only was it free, but they gave everyone gifts of money. Lots of money – … [Read more...]

About 70 women participated in a recent 'spa day' at the Baptist Associaiont of Greater New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS – “I really needed this.” “This was just what I needed.” These and similar comments referred to a recent ‘spa day’ that took place in the greenery-adorned BSU room at the offices of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. About 70 women participated. Brainchild of Author/Speaker Rebecca Hughes – that’s her in the top left photo – and Dramatist Kathy Frady – that’s her garbed as Consuela in lower left photo – the event was designed to give the wives of pastors and ministry leaders in Greater New Orleans a day free from responsibility. “I don’t get to see a lot of the pastors’ wives,” said Christina Bajewski.“I thought it would be good to get to be with them.” “I was just excited someone would treat like this,” said Fran Chatham. “Just being away from my husband and kids and not having to worry about tending to them is a real treat,” Amaris Genovese said. “My husband encouraged me to go,” said Joanie Gestes. “One of the best things is to get away with women who are in ministry, and in a relaxing atmosphere.” Massage therapist Amber Beroni was hands down the most popular part of the day. … [Read more...]

One hundred years ago, American missionaries took the Gospel to South Korea.  MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (BP) – One hundred years ago, American missionaries took the Gospel to South Korea. Today, there are more than 17,000 Korean missionaries taking the Gospel throughout the world. Southern Baptist Koreans want to do their part. Hence the Acts 1:8 Missions Celebration at New Community Baptist Church in Mountain View, Calif., jointly sponsored with the Northern California Korean Baptist Fellowship, the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board. The aim: to help Korean Baptist leaders from the area learn more about opportunities for missionary service locally and around the world. Korean Southern Baptists already are active in mission work in their communities, in the nation and internationally. The first Korean international missionary was appointed by the IMB in 1987; 300 more have been appointed, mostly to non-Korean people groups. “The Korean missionaries are very effective wherever they go,” said Gihwang Shin, Korean-American mobilization consultant with the IMB. “That is because of prayer and because Koreans are familiar with being immigrants, having to adapt to another culture.” The … [Read more...]

ouTube, MySpace and FaceBook are realities of the social networking age in which today’s student generation lives. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – YouTube, MySpace and FaceBook are realities of the social networking age in which today’s student generation lives. Southern Baptists have picked up on this cultural phenomenon. As millions gravitate to online communities and blogs, HolmanTV will be there to offer an alternative message. B&H Publishing Group, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, on May 14 launched HolmanTV, an innovative video blog with two- to five-minute episodes designed for the 20-something media-savvy generation. The aim is to expose high school and college students to the new Holman Student Bible that releases in July. Tim Jordan, B&H marketing manager, and Steve NeSmith, director of B&H’s e-business, realized after looking at marketing trends that old methods won’t reach new crowds. Jordan and NeSmith decided to create a campaign tailored to capture the attention of a student audience. “We began the campaign by asking where the students are,” Jordan said. “They are online. Social networking sites are where they are. In the last two years, social networking has exploded.” YouTube … [Read more...]

On a typical Sunday, around 50 people gather at First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills to worship and shine the light of the gospel in a tough mission field. BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – On a typical Sunday, around 50 people gather at First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills to worship and shine the light of the gospel in a tough mission field. The community surrounding the church is mostly Jewish, highly transient and a few blocks from the home of the annual Gay Pride Parade. Over the years, First Baptist has partnered with the North American Mission Board and mission groups from Southern Baptist churches across the country to bring the gospel to their community. But times have changed. No, they haven’t stopped spreading the gospel in their area, and occasionally a church will take a mission trip to their location. But they’ve stopped viewing themselves as merely a place for missions and have become a base for mission work across California and the rest of the nation. One of their greatest mission efforts has been in the farming communities in California’s San Jaoquin Valley. First Baptist Beverly Hills has been working the fields near Los Angeles, not picking crops, but harvesting souls. A few years ago, pastor Tom … [Read more...]

Churches across the state are planning to focus on the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home June 10. MONROE – Churches across the state are planning to focus on the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home June 10. That’s the Sunday set aside by messengers to the Louisiana Baptist Convention last November when churches can take up a special offering for the Children’s Home. “The plight of the children that come through our doors is just heartbreaking,” says Perry Hancock, executive director of the Children’s Home. “Through the prayers and contributions of churches across our great state, this ministry of offering hope to children in need continues. For well over 100 years, you’ve put smiles on the faces of thousands of boys and girls, and we thank you for your commitment.” The Children’s Home two weeks ago sent a four-minute video to every Southern Baptist church in Louisiana – designed to be shown June 10 – to help give the essence of Children’s Home ministry to children and families across the state. “We offer all ministry services without regard to a family’s ability to pay,” Hancock said. “Fewer than 1 percent of our income comes from our children’s parents, and that’s okay.” But costs rise each year, and programs and … [Read more...]

“Fewer people in more churches baptizing less and giving more” is a synopsis of the 2006 statistical summary recently released by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s business department, when compared with a similar report from 1996. ALEXANDRIA – “Fewer people in more churches baptizing less and giving more” is a synopsis of the 2006 statistical summary recently released by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s business department, when compared with a similar report from 1996. The 2006 summary reflects totals from the Annual Church Profiles (ACPs) churches sent in last fall. Of the 1,560 congregations affiliated with LBC as of Aug. 31, 2006, all but 195 sent in an ACP. “The ACP is a snapshot of a church’s ‘health’ at a point in time,” said Dale Lingenfelter, LBC business manager. “The information supplied by the churches helps communicate size, participation, and trends. “The ACP also gives a church the immediate benefit of having a legal form of documentation for ‘proof of operations’ that is acceptable to banks and insurance companies. Also, the number of messengers for LBC and the SBC annual meetings is determined by the ACP data.” The totals that follow in this article reflect only the churches that … [Read more...]

From the bayous to the piney woods, associational leaders across Louisiana gathered May 22 at Kingsville Baptist Church. BALL – From the bayous to the piney woods, associational leaders across Louisiana gathered May 22 at Kingsville Baptist Church. At least 240 leaders participated in 15 workshops for training and motivation at the annual Associational Leadership Planning Conference. Lonnie Wascom, North Shore associations’ director of missions, delivered the keynote address. Quoting the famous chef Emril Legasi, Wascom challenged associational leaders: “Let’s take it up another notch!” His message encouraged leaders to refocus the church/association/convention on God’s purposes rather than on unimportant, peripheral activities. “All of us serve in churches with CAVE people,” Wascom said. “You have heard of these CAVE people, the Committee Against Virtually Everything. We must look at everything we do and examine it in light of God’s purpose no matter what the CAVE people say.” The ALPC included 15 workshops by Louisiana Baptist Convention staff or consultants. Workshop titles included: Training for a Louisiana Associational Moral and Social Concerns Committee; Instructions on helping associational leaders build healthier … [Read more...]

Maryland pastor Eric C. Redmond will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Virginia Baptist leader announced May 18. RICHMOND, Va., (BP) – Maryland pastor Eric C. Redmond will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a Virginia Baptist leader announced May 18. Doyle Chauncey, executive director of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia convention, said he will nominate Redmond for the post during the SBC’s June 12-13 annual meeting in San Antonio. Redmond is pastor of Hillcrest  in Temple Hills, Md. He and his wife Pamela are parents to five children. Redmond previously was assistant professor of Bible and theology at Washington Bible College in Lanham, Md., and now is an adjunct professor of hermeneutics at Capital Bible Seminary, also in Lanham. He is a trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and an executive board member of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Washington Bible College. “I can think of no one more qualified or more capable for this … [Read more...]