"It would not be possible for a church our size to put a missionary in Brazil or West Africa; the start-up costs would be prohibitive," pastor Mike Moody says. "But when we collectively work with 16 million Southern Baptists, we can do it."     HONEA PATH, S.C. (BP) – "It would not be possible for a church our size to put a missionary in Brazil or West Africa; the start-up costs would be prohibitive," pastor Mike Moody says. "But when we collectively work with 16 million Southern Baptists, we can do it."   Moody is pastor of First Baptist Church in Honea Path, S.C., where about 400 people attend Sunday worship services.   By giving through the Cooperative Program, Moody noted that First Baptist is assisting more than 5,000 missionaries who are working to share the Gospel among some 1,200 people groups around the world. In North America, he added, the church’s CP gifts are helping start some 1,700 new churches each year at a time when, as Moody put it, "the world has come to us. You don’t have to go far to find Hispanic communities, Asian communities, African communities [in need of the Gospel].   "The Great Commission basically tells us to go and make disciples," Moody said, noting that "the Cooperative Program … [Read more...]

Chain saw units from around the state quickly responded to the recent ice and snow storms that blanketed the Plains and Southern regions of the United States.     LONGVILLE — Chain saw units from around the state quickly responded to the recent ice and snow storms that blanketed the Plains and Southern regions of the United States.   One such eight-man unit was staffed by four different churches. Olin Earl, Ronnie Lee, and Clyde Dennis from Magnolia Baptist; Steve Homan from First Longville; Jerry Johnson, Brad Johnson and Bill Coleman from Beauregard Memorial; and Steve Stokes from Harmony Baptist returned home Jan. 28 from Neosho, Mo., in the Southwest corner of the state, after logging 291 man hours and completing 49 work orders.   "Most of the work orders my team did was senior citizens, widows and widowers who wouldn’t have been able to do it themselves, either physically or financially," said Jerry Johnson, pastor of Beauregard Memorial Baptist and the blue hat and chaplain for this chain saw unit.   "Most important I think was sharing the love of Jesus with them," he continued. "If they were not Christians, we shared the gospel with them and gave them tracts and gave the follow up to [Calvary Church in … [Read more...]

In recent years, leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention and the broader evangelical world have sounded the alarm that churches are becoming less and less effective in evangelism. Baptisms among Southern Baptist churches have numbered less than 400,000 each of the last five years, and 2005 saw the lowest total since 1993.     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--In recent years, leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention and the broader evangelical world have sounded the alarm that churches are becoming less and less effective in evangelism. Baptisms among Southern Baptist churches have numbered less than 400,000 each of the last five years, and 2005 saw the lowest total since 1993.   With that in mind, LifeWay Research made it a priority to investigate Southern Baptist churches that are effective in reaching people for Christ.   With input from LifeWay Christian Resources President Thom S. Rainer, LifeWay Research determined to look at churches that met the following criteria: baptized at least 26 people per year for 10 consecutive years; had overall worship attendance growth during the same 10 years; and had a membership-to-baptism ratio of no more than 20-to-1.   Out of more than 43,000 churches in the SBC, 22 met the … [Read more...]

As families were uprooted when Hurricane Katrina hit, Southern Baptist churches in the New Orleans area saw key leaders relocate. The remaining leaders, meanwhile, are overwhelmed and overworked at a time of great evangelistic harvest, finding it difficult to train and assimilate new believers.     NEW ORLEANS (BP) – As families were uprooted when Hurricane Katrina hit, Southern Baptist churches in the New Orleans area saw key leaders relocate. The remaining leaders, meanwhile, are overwhelmed and overworked at a time of great evangelistic harvest, finding it difficult to train and assimilate new believers.   Organizers of "Unlimited Partnerships New Orleans" are seeking to fill the void through an initiative that will match students from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with area churches that need assistance in the area of Christian education.   The project is a joint effort of the North American Mission Board, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans and New Orleans Seminary. Funding for the paid positions will come from sponsoring churches throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.   Students selected for Unlimited Partnerships New Orleans will serve in local … [Read more...]

Being pastor is very much like being part of a high wire act because there is no way to look, sound or dress like an "ordinary Joe" while walking a tightrope suspended in mid-air.     Being pastor is very much like being part of a high wire act because there is no way to look, sound or dress like an "ordinary Joe" while walking a tightrope suspended in mid-air.   Every day a pastor must traverse a wonderful line stretched between heaven and earth. There are some people that walk with the pastor on this high wire. There are even those that are ahead of him. However, many more are seated in the grandstands content to watch and admire his walk in holy air.   If the pastor’s walk is inspirational, the Lord can use him to help the spectators leave their seats and embark on their own spiritual tightrope journey. When that happens the pastor is filled with joy.   Most people appreciate the difficulty of the pastor’s walk and express that appreciation in lovely, gracious ways. However, there are people that fail to understand the preacher’s plight. These, and thank goodness they are few, will even throw things at a pastor making it difficult for him to keep his balance. Most people that hinder the pastor do so without … [Read more...]

Marcion, an early church heretic, was expelled from the church in Rome around AD 144. The early church leaders disapproved of his rejection of the Old Testament, which he based on supposed contradictions between it and the New Testament.     Marcion, an early church heretic, was expelled from the church in Rome around AD 144. The early church leaders disapproved of his rejection of the Old Testament, which he based on supposed contradictions between it and the New Testament.   Many Christians are still struggling with what to do with the Old Testament. And yet the Old Testament was the Bible for the first Christians, a fact made clear by examining the number of times the New Testament authors quoted from, or alluded to, the Old Testament. The Book of Hebrews contains at least 35 direct quotations from the Old Testament and approximately twice that number of allusions to Old Testament passages, events, and persons.   For too long, scholars have treated the New Testament authors’ use of the Old Testament as extreme examples of proof-texting that ignored the Old Testament context in order to make a particular point. In order to explain why the New Testament writers could ignore sound principles of interpretation, but … [Read more...]

The "Christian Revolutionaries" want to revitalize the church, not abandon it – and they definitely want to participate in missions.     The "Christian Revolutionaries" want to revitalize the church, not abandon it – and they definitely want to participate in missions.   At least, those are two messages I got from self-described "Revolutionaries" and others who responded to my last column, "Here comes the (Christian) Revolution," released Jan. 11.   In that column, I summarized some of Christian pollster George Barna’s most significant research findings for 2006.   Barna reported some discouraging trends in American church life: Only 15 percent of regular churchgoers rank their relationship with God as their top priority. Most adults related to a church youth group in their teens had dropped out of church altogether during their 20s. Many Christians experience spiritual growth haphazardly (or not at all).   But Barna also identified a growing movement of what he calls "Christian Revolutionaries" – believers who demonstrate much higher commitment to group worship, personal spiritual growth, Bible study and biblical beliefs, community ministry, evangelism and financial investment in Christian work.   However, … [Read more...]

March 11, 2007, will mark a special anniversary for Mack Walker. Brother Mack, as he is affectionately known, will celebrate 50 years as an ordained minister of the gospel.     March 11, 2007, will mark a special anniversary for Mack Walker. Brother Mack, as he is affectionately known, will celebrate 50 years as an ordained minister of the gospel.   He was pastor of Turkey Creek Baptist Church, Gilbert, La., while he attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   He served Sycamore Baptist Church, Vidalia, La., for 25 years and has been at Larto Baptist church the past 14 years.   At 78 years of age he shows no signs of slowing down. He still preaches 10 or 12 revivals each year in addition to being a pastor.   Brother Mack is a living example of Paul’s description of the pastor/leader found in II Timothy 2. He is a teacher (v.2), a soldier (v.3), an athlete (v.5), a farmer (v.6), a workman (v.15), a vessel (v.20,21),and a slave (v.24). As a shepherd he has fed, nurtured, comforted, corrected and protected the churches under his care. For 50 years he has exemplified sacrifice, devotion, submission and humility in service to our wonderful Savior.   The highest and greatest thing to be said about Brother … [Read more...]

Several spoke at the Evangelism Conference about the 80 percent of Louisiana Southern Baptist churches that are     Several spoke at the Evangelism Conference about the 80 percent of Louisiana Southern Baptist churches that are "plateaued or declining."   A church I was in recently was among that "80 percent" group.   It was so sad.   A beautiful, nearly regal building with huge, high doors behind stately columns greeted me as I walked up the steps from a nearby visitors’ parking spot. No one was outside to smile or open doors, however.   The foyer smelled heavenly. Truly! Woodsy and yet a hint of delicate wildflowers, as if a reminder that all heaven and earth shall sing of the glory of the Lord.   No one in the foyer to smile or give me a hug, though a stack of businesslike bulletins sat anonymously on a table. I picked one up and walked through a set of double doors into the sanctuary.   Like a horse that senses danger, my feet stopped before my mind engaged and I nearly tripped over myself five steps into the worship center.   Wasn’t it Sunday? Where were all the people? Fewer than a dozen were scattered among pews that could have accommodated easily 500.   It seems I was early. Within another five … [Read more...]

One of the breakout sessions offered at the recent Evangelism Conference was a bus tour of the region. It was hosted by BAGNO – the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans – and transportation provided (two mid-size buses) by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.     Third in a series NEW ORLEANS – One of the breakout sessions offered at the recent Evangelism Conference was a bus tour of the region. It was hosted by BAGNO – the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans – and transportation provided (two mid-size buses) by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church.   Tour guides Joe Mc- Keever and Freddie Arnold brought passengers up to date on progress made since the Katrina disaster of 2005. I was on Arnold’s bus; my facts come from him.   The pre-Katrina population of more than a million people of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes has been whittled down to no more than 200,000 residents. Eerie, ghostlike structures – once home to families of several generations and passed down through many generations decorated in old New Orleans-style wrought iron – dot the landscape. Establishing legal ownership records stands in the way of some renovations and demolitions of properties.Greenery that once glistened with … [Read more...]