To the Editor and Louisiana Baptists: Recently, the Vernon Baptist Association and the Alpha Omega Hispanic Mission received grants totaling $35,000 for our Spanish Mission Building; and each month, we receive a supplement to Rev. Jose Us’ salary.  Privately, I have expressed gratitude to the Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team members and Dr. Hankins for their role in securing these BLESSINGS for us; but it occurred to me that we should thank all Louisiana and Southern Baptists for the help we received. The building grants came from the Louisiana Baptist Convention Church Site Corporation ($25,000) and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering ($10,000).  The supplement to Brother Jose’s salary comes from the North American Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  So, every Southern Baptist who gave to the special missions offerings and to a church participating in the Cooperative Program helped us have a ministry to our Hispanic community and a building and equipment in which to meet.  Each will have “fruit abounding to his or her account.”  Phil 4:17.     So, praise the Lord for such a wonderful system; and thanks to each church for participating in the special missions offerings and your faithful … [Read more...]

A couple of years ago I was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter on the subject of “gay marriage.” Somewhere in the midst of our conversation the discussion turned and the reporter said, “You have to admit that there are places in the Bible where Jesus comes across more like a tax- and-spend-liberal who really wants to help the poor rather than a conservative who wants the disadvantaged to help themselves.” A couple of years ago I was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter on the subject of “gay marriage.” Somewhere in the midst of our conversation the discussion turned and the reporter said, “You have to admit that there are places in the Bible where Jesus comes across more like a tax- and-spend-liberal who really wants to help the poor rather than a conservative who wants the disadvantaged to help themselves.” “I don’t know any conservatives that are opposed to helping the poor,” I replied. “We just disagree with liberals on what is the best way to provide assistance to those in need.” Over the next several minutes I explained that of all the conservatives I know, while they want to help those less fortunate than themselves, they do not believe government is the best vehicle to get the job done. When it comes … [Read more...]

In the past few months, I have been reminded of the battle our children face in a culture that is moving farther and farther away from Christian values. In the past few months, I have been reminded of the battle our children face in a culture that is moving farther and farther away from Christian values. One night as I flipped through the television channels trying to find something of value, I saw several programs for children that promoted arrogance, violence, and profanity. Recently I read an article about “affluenza,” a social virus infecting most middle-class children in America. The result is a child who is consumed with consuming. Two weeks ago I encountered a 16-year-old girl who was being pressured by her father to have an abortion. Just a few days ago I talked with a fourth-grader who had been introduced to Darwinian evolution in a way that challenged everything we are teaching him at the Children’s Home. And finally, I read of a high school student who gave God credit for his success in a yearbook profile. Without the student’s permission, school officials replaced “God” with “others” before publishing the yearbook.  Obviously, Christian parents today face a great challenge as they seek to cultivate … [Read more...]

Baby boomers have long taken the rap for being the most selfish generation of Americans ever, but we finally have some competition. Baby boomers have long taken the rap for being the most selfish generation of Americans ever, but we finally have some competition. Our children and grandchildren are coming up fast in our rearview mirrors, and they’re about to leave us in their dust when it comes to narcissism and self-absorption. I’m not just talking about the little thugs and thugettes who run amok in stores and restaurants while their clueless parents ignore them. I’m talking about at least some of the intelligent, ambitious young adults graduating this spring from American colleges and universities. Too many celebrity commencement speakers are telling them what they’ve heard for years from parents and others: “You are special. The world revolves around you. The future belongs to you.” In other words, they’re being sold a bill of goods by their indulgent boomer elders, who should know better by now. The world doesn’t revolve around 20-somethings any more than the sun revolves around the earth. Why are we telling them so? It shortchanges them and cripples the mission of the church, which needs a new generation … [Read more...]

A story came across my desk recently with some very disheartening news: “According to the Annual Church Profile,” it said, “baptisms last year dropped from 371,850 to 364,826” in the Southern Baptist Convention. A story came across my desk recently with some very disheartening news: “According to the Annual Church Profile,” it said, “baptisms last year dropped from 371,850 to 364,826” in the Southern Baptist Convention. What has happened to the churches of the SBC? Southern Baptists have long been known for our evangelistic efforts, so why is it that we continue to report a decline in baptisms? These are very pertinent questions, especially when one considers that last year Southern Baptists highlighted the work of evangelism and baptism by means of the “Everyone Can” campaign. Could it be that we have somehow misplaced our priorities as a denomination? Have we inserted some substitutes in the slots where evangelism & baptism used to belong? I’m very concerned that indeed we have. That begs the question: What influences have we allowed to push us towards a neglect of genuine outreach and discipleship? I fear we have borrowed some from the “Vineyard” movement, the self-identified “community of churches” that … [Read more...]

Here, diversity is the key word as downtown Baton Rouge meets urban sprawl, which gives way to farm lands and eventually to swamp water. BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE – Here, diversity is the key word as downtown Baton Rouge meets urban sprawl, which gives way to farm lands and eventually to swamp water. The challenge in such a landscape is to minister to the equally diverse population. The association known as BAGBR – Bagbar– is responding to the challenge with church revitalization and church starting efforts, Executive Director Roddy Conerly says. “We have a mixture of the populations from the entire world in the greater Baton Rouge area,” Conerly said. Part of that mixture can be attributed to the enrollments at Louisiana  State University and at Southern University, where students from all over the world attend, he said. Some of the diversity is a result of the area’s attractions, including the Mississippi River and the casinos it supports, as well as the downtown area of Baton Rouge, the swamps south of the city, sporting events at the two universities, as well as fishing, and industries such as petroleum, sugar cane farming, and crawfish.   “The rapid growth of the greater Baton Rouge area … [Read more...]

Got a hurt, hang-up or habit holding you back? Meet the ultimate Higher Power and discover healing. BATON ROUGE – Got a hurt, hang-up or habit holding you back? Meet the ultimate Higher Power and discover healing. Celebrate Recovery (CR) at Istrouma Baptist Church seeks to free believers and unbelievers alike from addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors by promoting the ultimate Higher Power: Jesus Christ.   “Istrouma gets more members through that one ministry than anything else,” said Rodrick Conerly, executive director of the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge (BAGBR). “It’s very effective in helping people and getting them to have the proper relationship with Jesus Christ.”  “CR originated with the Saddleback Church in California,” wrote Istrouma’s associate pastor, Ron Lambe, in a recent email. A Christ-based ‘12-step’ program of recovery, CR offers a safe environment, along with acceptance, instruction and accountability, to people dealing with chemical and emotional addictions. At Istrouma, participants meet 52 weeks a year, from 6-9 p.m. on Friday evenings Though CR is based on Alcoholics Anonymous, there are several key differences, the pastor continued. Primarily, CR is Christ-centered … [Read more...]

Neither poverty, nor car bombs, nor mudslides nor loss of electricity stays a missionary from the completion of God’s assignment. BATON ROUGE – Neither poverty, nor car bombs, nor mudslides nor loss of electricity stays a missionary from the completion of God’s assignment. Rodrick E. (Roddy) Conerly, executive director for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, and his family can attest to that. Stationed in Lima, Peru through the International Mission Board for 12 years, the Conerlys experienced all that and more, but never deterred in their task to spread the gospel. “There is a lot of hardship there,” Conerly said about Peru where terrorists were part of the landscape during their time there, and where poverty consumed more than half the population. “One lady asked me to raise her son because she couldn’t provide enough food.” Though he could have taken the child, he had to tell the woman no because so many other mothers would have asked the same thing. While he and his family lived in Peru, two terrorist organizations, The Shining Path, and the Tupac Amaru, were very active, Conerly said. “When we arrived in [the early 1980s] they were beginning their activities,” he said. “At first we could travel … [Read more...]

The number of construction missions opportunities available this summer in Louisiana is unprecedented in the state’s history. STATEWIDE – The number of construction missions opportunities available this summer in Louisiana is unprecedented in the state’s history. The photos at right make for an incomplete list of construction projects across the state that are somewhere in the process from moving dirt to getting final approval from city inspectors. Baptist Message coverage is limited by space, but Louisiana Baptists are limited only by God’s direction and the number of volunteers willing to help. All skills and skill levels are needed: tea-makers, trench-diggers, trash-picker-uppers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, gardeners, roofers and more, for projects wherever God calls you to. --Louisiana Baptist Mission Builders has projects all over the state: Denham Springs, Slidell, Morganza, Baton Rouge, Chalmette, Covington, Bossier City, Ruston, Natchitoches, Tillou, Meraux, Cameron, Lafayette,  Shreveport and probably others. (Mission Builders recently completed projects at Oberlin and Prairieville.)  --First Baptist New Orleans partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build 30 homes last year; 10 more are to … [Read more...]

Summer Camp schedules offer a variety of God-centered activities for children and youth. 2007 Summer Camping Schedule Acadian Baptist Center Eunice, La. 337-457-9047 www.abccamp.com Youth camps, grades 7-12, “Hype,” June 11-15; “Er Get Reel,” July 23-27. Pre-teen camps, grades 3-6, “The Race,” High Definition June 18-21; “Hype,” July 30-Aug 2. Missions camp, grades 1-12; “Live Out Loud” June 25-29. Day camp, grades 1-3; “G.L.O.W.” July 9 – 13. Horsebackriding camp, ages 10 and up, May 28-June 1; June 4-8. Camp Bethany Bethany, La. 318-938-1221 www.campbethany.com Kidz Mission Camp, completed grades 4-6; June 25-28. Preteen Camp I, completed grades 4-6; July 2-6. Preteen Camp II, completed grades 4-6; July 9-13. Camp Fuego, completed grades 6-12; June 16-20. Clara Springs Baptist Encampment Pleasant Hill, La. 318-796-3875 Youth Camp, completed grades 6-12, June 25 – 28. Kids Camp, completed grades 1-6, July 9 – 12. Girls Camp, completed grades 1-6, July 16 – 19. Boys Camp, completed grades 1-6, July 23 – 26. Dry Creek Baptist Camp Dry Creek, La. 337-328-7531 Boy’s Opportunity Camp, by invitation only, May 28 – 30. Girl’s Opportunity Camp, by invitation only, May 29 – 31. GA Camp, … [Read more...]