If there is any question about where the focus of the North American Mission Board lies as it enters the New Year, those questions quickly dissipate after talking with key leadership.     ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Evangelism. Church planting. Missions.   If there is any question about where the focus of the North American Mission Board lies as it enters the New Year, those questions quickly dissipate after talking with key leadership.   "We want to be about evangelism and church planting and sending missionaries who do evangelism and church planting," says Interim Vice President for Missions Harry Lewis. That simple statement sums up the board’s direction as it stands on the threshold of 2007 and looks toward its 10th anniversary this June.   "We spent several months in listening sessions with our state partners and we heard those three primary objectives as being the areas they would like us to focus on," Lewis said. "We are not reducing the other objectives we have had since our founding, we are just narrowing our focus."   Shortly after its launch in June 1997 the board announced six Major Ministry Objectives. It’s those objectives that have been distilled down to three -– sharing Christ, starting churches and … [Read more...]

Give him a cake, or just about anything, and Bubba Smith can turn it into cash that helps meet the needs of families with mounting medical expenses.     WINNSBORO – Give him a cake, or just about anything, and Bubba Smith can turn it into cash that helps meet the needs of families with mounting medical expenses.   A spry 80-year-old, Smith uses his abilities as an auctioneer to raise money for schools, churches and especially for those who need help with medical expenses, he said. Having raised as much as $27,000 at one benefit auction in his 35 years as an auctioneer, Smith is an expert at working a crowd.   "Everybody knows it’s a fundraiser," he said of a benefit auction. "It’s not like a regular auction. I can look at the crowd and know how much time I can spend on one thing. If you’ve gotten so much money out of a crowd, then you know when they’ll stop bidding."   Smith has auctioned cakes to individuals for as much as $500. Once he continually re-sold a cake until it brought about $1,200.   "It’s not the cake," he explained. "Sometimes something tells me to do something different. If somebody will give $100, then that means somebody else stopped bidding at $90 or $95. If I can get the buyer to donate it … [Read more...]

In Iowa, it’s legal for a man to beat his wife as long as he doesn’t incapacitate her," April Bolgiano tells pregnant women considering an abortion who come to the Vernon Pregnancy Resource Center.     LEESVILLE – "In Iowa, it’s legal for a man to beat his wife as long as he doesn’t incapacitate her," April Bolgiano tells pregnant women considering an abortion who come to the Vernon Pregnancy Resource Center.   The law, though of course ridiculous, is nevertheless still on that state’s books, Bolgiano said.   Many women, by and large, assume the legality of abortion also makes it a morally sound decision, she continued. Bolgiano makes short work of stripping that notion away, pointing out also the moral failings of slavery, which was legal in the nation for decades.   "Legal doesn’t make it okay," said Bolgiano who uses a variety of strategies to talk women out of getting an abortion, including life-like replicas of fetuses at various stages.   Bolgiano is director of the Vernon Baptist Association’s pregnancy center.   As early as twelve weeks, facial features as well as toes and fingers are clearly distinguishable on the replica which fits snugly in the palm of an adult’s hand. It looks like a baby and … [Read more...]

Beth Moore, Dennis Jernigan, The Centurymen and John Maxwell all are on the calendar of First Baptist Lafayette this spring, where Steve Horn is pastor. LAFAYETTE – Beth Moore, Dennis Jernigan, The Centurymen and John Maxwell all are on the calendar of First Baptist Lafayette this spring, where Steve Horn is pastor.   n Renowned author and Bible teacher Beth Moore is slated to speak Feb. 24 to tens of thousands of women across North America in a live satellite simulcast based on her new book "Get Out of That Pit."  Note: First Eunice and Calvary Alexandria also will be hosting the simulcast.   In a special message titled Straight Talk About God’s Deliverance, Moore is expected to discuss the fact that deliverance is for everyone – no matter how you got stuck, no matter how long you’ve been down, whether you think you deserve it or not. From her own personal experience, Moore is to share the healing to be found in Jesus and will present a message of hope.   n Just a couple of weeks later, at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 4, worship artist, songwriter and author, Dennis Jernigan, is to be in concert at First Lafayette, 1100 Lee Avenue. Nicknamed by a pastor as "America’s lead worshiper," the songs of Dennis Jernigan, such … [Read more...]

SHREVEPORT – Parkview Shreveport has planned a Kirkin of the Tartans, a special Scottish/Celtic service at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 18.   CASTOR – Fishing for a Mission: Bass fishing tournament April 14 at Clark’s Marina on the Red River in South Bossier Parish. Every person fishing in the tournament will walk away with a prize for participating. All money raised is to be going towards mission work. Young Harmony is to be in concert the evening before, April 13, at the marina. Contact David Lea at 318-544-7254 or Preston Young at 318-544-8055 for registration and other information. SULPHUR – Houston River Baptist provides the plan of salvation on its website, www.houstonriverbc.org. It also has some "funnies" that are worth giggling over, such as:   "An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services when she was startled by an intruder. She ... yelled, ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’ (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks [and, as he was being cuffed, explained:] ‘She said she had an ax and two 38s!’ Remember, knowing scripture can save your life in more ways than one."   The website reports more than 200 people … [Read more...]

Staff changes/clarifications Bonnie Beeman is LBC children’s music consultant; her email is rbeeman@centurytel.net. Kris Smith is new as LBC youth music consultant; his email is ksmith@fbcnatchitoches.com. He is getting the All State Youth Choir organized for the June 2007 tour. Robin Thomas is new orchestra/praise band consultant; her email is sejco@bayou.com. She has an event planned for Feb. 16-17 in Baton Rouge that will be the first of its kind in the state, says LBC music/worship ministry assistant Kathy Doolittle. Her email is kathy.doolittle@lbc.org; 318-449-4231. Jeff Jinks is new pastor at Wallace Baptist in Pelican. Marvin Smith is new minister of music/senior adults at First Baker. Dennis Allen is pastor. Bryan Masters has resigned as part time youth minister at Hebron Baptist to continue his education. The church expects to replace him with a fulltime youth minister. Joe Alain, pastor. Seeking staff Part-time youth minister. Send resumes to Youth Minister Search Committee, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 20116 Hwy. 1081, Covington LA 70435. Lonnie Thompson is pastor. Youth and music minister. Send resumes to Clarence Baptist Church, Search Committee, PO Box 7, Clarence LA 71414. Part-time music director … [Read more...]

Israel registered its first "gay marriage" Jan. 29, two months after that nation’s highest court issued a landmark ruling for homosexual couples. JERUSALEM (BP) – Israel registered its first "gay marriage" Jan. 29, two months after that nation’s highest court issued a landmark ruling for homosexual couples.   Binyamin and Avi Rose, two homosexual men from Israel, became the first couple to have their marriage license recognized, the Jerusalem Post reported. They "married" in Canada last June. Canada is a popular destination for homosexual couples because its marriage law doesn’t require residency.   The November decision by the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the country to recognize "gay marriages" from other countries, such as Canada and Spain. Although the ruling didn’t allow same-sex couples to get "married" within Israel’s borders, it nonetheless put the country at odds with other nations such as the United States and Great Britain, neither of which recognizes foreign "gay marriages." The U.S. government doesn’t even recognize "gay marriages" from the state of Massachusetts, where it is legal.   "It was wonderful to get married at the city hall in Toronto, but it was far more important for the state of Israel to … [Read more...]

International Mission Board trustees heard a challenge to speed up the sluggish growth of Southern Baptists’ global mission force and appointed 43 new missionaries during their Jan. 29-31 meeting in Ontario, Calif. ONTARIO, Calif. (BP) – International Mission Board trustees heard a challenge to speed up the sluggish growth of Southern Baptists’ global mission force and appointed 43 new missionaries during their Jan. 29-31 meeting in Ontario, Calif. Trustees and executive staff members also responded to a motion, made by IMB trustee Wade Burleson during last year’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting and referred to the trustee board, calling for investigation of alleged improprieties by trustees. In his report to trustees, IMB President Jerry Rankin appealed for a "new resolve" among Southern Baptists to counteract a slowdown in the growth of the international mission force -– especially in short-term missionary categories. "I really believe what we have seen God doing in the first six years of this century exceeds even the previous decade in fulfilling the Great Commission," Rankin said. "It’s evident God is using the volatile events around the world to turn the hearts of people to spiritual answers that only Jesus can … [Read more...]

President George W. Bush received a Southern Baptist award for his advocacy of religious freedom in a Jan. 29 presentation at the White House.     WASHINGTON (BP) – President George W. Bush received a Southern Baptist award for his advocacy of religious freedom in a Jan. 29 presentation at the White House.   Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, presented the entity’s 2006 John Leland Religious Liberty Award to Bush in the Oval Office. The ERLC gave the award to the president for "courageously defending the right of all people to exercise freely their religious faith," according to the framed citation.   "I can’t think of another president in my lifetime who has done more to promote religious liberty specifically as a fundamental human right around the world than" Bush, Land told Baptist Press.   The award, which was presented for the 15th consecutive year by the ERLC, is named in memory of a Baptist preacher of the late 1700s and early 1800s who strongly advocated for religious freedom. Leland worked with James Madison, often described as the Father of the Constitution, to gain support for the First Amendment’s guarantees of no government establishment of religion and no … [Read more...]

National WMU received an inaugural grant from the Joy Fund of $35,000 from its partner, the WMU Foundation.     BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – National WMU received an inaugural grant from the Joy Fund of $35,000 from its partner, the WMU Foundation.   Announced at its 2007 January Board Meeting at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Ala., the grant will enable WMU to make much-needed technology upgrades to its national office.   "We are overjoyed to have this gift from the Joy Fund that will enable us at the national office to purchase new computers and other technological equipment," said Wanda S. Lee, executive director/treasurer of national WMU. "This generous gift from the WMU Foundation will greatly enhance our work and create time efficiencies as we seek to engage even more churches in missions education and involvement. We are grateful for the partnership of David George as WMU Foundation president and his board members who whole-heartedly support the mission of WMU."   Members of the WMU Foundation Board of Trustees traveled to Shocco Springs in support of their partnership with WMU. They presented the check to Kaye Miller, national WMU president, and Lee before a standing ovation by WMU’s Board of … [Read more...]