It almost did not air. Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absnence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960 era comedies, would be the kiss of death. It almost did not air. Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absnence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960 era comedies, would be the kiss of death. To further complicate mattes, the man behind the cast of animated characters insisted upon using real kids for the voice-overs. As a result, only a couple of the children who were cast had any acting experience. However, what most concerned the suits at CBS was the religious content. The climax of the 30-minute program focused on a main character quoting scripture. The executive producer even insisted that the Bible could not be read on network television. However, the creator of what has become a Christmas classic refused to edit or otherwise water-down the content. In spite of network executives’ concerns, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” made its television debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965. The result: More than 15 million homes tuned in and it captured nearly half … [Read more...]

The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, College, Foundation and Message presented reports of their activities over the last year to messengers of the mid-November annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. LAKE CHARLES – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, College, Foundation and Message presented reports of their activities over the last year to messengers of the mid-November annual meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Children’s Home The Children’s Home served in its 107th year through residential campuses in Monroe and Baton Rouge, foster homes located throughout the state, Sellers Maternity Home in Tallulah, and the Granberry Counseling Centers, reported Executive Director Perry Hancock. “This past year the Home ministered to 342 children and their families through its residential ministries,” Hancock said. “Granberry served almost 1,000 new clients and Sellers maternity Home provided crisis pregnancy counseling and care for 92 young ladies.” Sixteen children made professions of faith and were baptized; many others made new commitments of life, and several youth participated in mission trips across the nation. Trustees last February approved PathFinders … [Read more...]

Could West Africa be won to Christ over a glass of sweet tea? Could West Africa be won to Christ over a glass of sweet tea? Maybe, if you drink it with the right people: village chiefs, religious leaders, heads of family clans, young trailblazers of the future. That’s exactly what some Southern Baptist missionaries in West Africa are doing. Several people groups in the region savor an elaborate tea ceremony: The host brews and serves progressive rounds of strong, hot tea to guests. Each glass gets sweeter, symbolizing the growth of friendship. Friendship opens ears – and hearts. But the 287 million other people of West Africa thirst for something far sweeter than tea. They yearn for Living Water. “God has created a people here who want to worship Him,” says Randy Arnett, IMB regional leader for West Africa. “They just don’t know it yet.” Arnett and other IMB missionaries in West Africa intend to tell them. But they can’t do it without a major increase in participation by Southern Baptists. The challenge of West Africa --1,612 people groups spread across 22 countries – nearly as large as the continental United States. --More than 350 of those peoples have no access … [Read more...]

It’s a tough life for a kid. SENEGAL, West Africa—It’s a tough life for a kid. You wake in the darkness before dawn and roll off a wooden pallet - one of the “beds” you share with 30 other boys on the dirt floor of a grimy, three-room dwelling. You rub your eyes, eat something – if there’s anything to eat – and begin chanting verses from the Quran, Islam’s holy book. You have no idea what the Arabic words mean, but you chant them over and over. You remember the day your mother brought you to this place and handed you over to the “serigne” (suh-REEN), your Muslim teacher. “I don’t want to see him again until he knows the Quran,” she had told the serigne, following custom. With tears in her eyes, she pried your trembling fingers loose from her hand and hurried away. You were 5 years old. You won’t see her again for a decade or more – if ever. The chanting done, you set out into the sandy streets of Yoff, a sprawling section of Dakar, capital of the West African nation of Senegal. Carrying an empty tomato can, you spend much of the day begging under the white-hot sun. People drop sugar cubes, food or perhaps a coin or two into your can, fulfilling their duty as Muslims to give … [Read more...]

Shirley Cross knows what it’s like to not be “Patty Perfect” – and still survive. NASHVILLE, Tenn., – Shirley Cross knows what it’s like to not be “Patty Perfect” – and still survive. “It’s been an interesting season each year to go through because each year brings the different stresses,” said Cross, a pastor’s wife, employee of LifeWay Christian Resources, former missionary and mother of two. “How do you handle prioritizing the church parties and the family time? Issues with going to see family also was always a stress because you had to find time,” Cross said. “And a lot of times, you not only had the concern about ‘is there time to go,’ but [also] ‘is something going to happen with a church member in the church’ [when you leave]?” The last six weeks of every year are supposed to be the most festive times of the year, especially for Christians. Families gather for big Thanksgiving meals and just weeks later gather again to celebrate the birth of Christ. The herald angel ushered in Jesus’ arrival with, “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy.” Unfortunately, many times for ministers’ wives, the only good news they hear during the holiday season is that they have almost made it … [Read more...]

Potpourri BOSSIER CITY – First church:  Dennis Swanberg in concert; Dec. 17, 6 p.m.; $10 per person in advance/$12 at the door; sponsored by First church of Haughton; call 318-949-2441 for ticket information; Fred Lowery, pastor. NATCHITOCHES – Trinity church:  Dennis Swanberg in concert; Dec. 18, 7 p.m.; for information, call 318-352-6322; Ron Thompson, pastor. Youth EUNICE – Acadian camp:  ABC Winter Youth Retreat; for boys/girls grades 7-12th; Dec. 15, 5 p.m. registration – Dec. 16, 4 p.m.; Chip Dickey and The Heard, program personalities; $40 per person; to register, call 337-457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager. Christmas Programs MARTIN – Martin church:  “One Small Child” musical; Dec. 10, 6 p.m.; Glenn Wilkins, minister of music; Mike Welch, pastor. MERRYVILLE – Green Oak church:  “The Gift Goes On” community musical; Dec. 9, 6 p.m.; Dec. 10, 11 a.m.; T. J. Bordelon, pastor. LIVINGSTON – Pine Grove church:  “Christmas in the Pines” dinner concert featuring the Down East Boys; Dec. 9, 7 p.m.; call 225-698-6902 or 225-235-7475 for reservations; love offering accepted; Paul Taylor, pastor. BATON ROUGE – First church:  “A Classic Christmas” musical presented by … [Read more...]

BOYCE – Squirrels used to be a main ingredient in the annual Thanksgiving gumbo gathering at First Boyce. But that’s when more men of the church were hunters. Sausage and chicken are now used in a delectably smooth dish made even more fun by the fellowship of community residents as well as church members. Joe Reynolds is pastor. DEVILLE – Carolyn Whatley at Big Island Baptist asks, “Are there any churches in our area that can use used literature?” If you would like the literature, call the church at 318-466-5283. Todd Burgess is pastor. CORRECTION – Director of Missions Lonnie Wascom saw an incorrect fact on page 6 in the last issue. “John Shaffner began a BCM at Southeastern;” – is an incorrect statement,” Wascom wrote. “John began working at SLU this past year, which has had a BCM since at least the 1950s (BSU in those days). I’m sure ladies and gentlemen like Kathleen Pittman, Don Hammonds, Carl Smith, T.V. Owens, Tom Cobb, and Jason Ebeyer would all testify to having served as BSU/BCM Director at Southeastern!” The Message sincerely regrets the error and appreciates the opportunity of setting the record straight. WEST MONROE – Greg Green, minister of music at New Chapel Hill Baptist sends this: … [Read more...]

There are more than 2.1 million prisoners in U.S. jails and prisons. There are more than 2.1 million prisoners in U.S. jails and prisons. And, if trends continue, of the nearly 750,000 inmates who are released each year, two-thirds of them will be arrested again within three years and approximately half of these individuals will spend more time behind bars. A June 2006 report from the National Prison Commission states “what happens inside jails and prisons does not stay inside jails and prisons.” The commission notes “disturbing evidence of individual assaults and patterns of violence” that spill out of those institutions when inmates more dangerous than when they were first imprisoned are released into communities. These reports not only paint a dismal picture for lawbreakers, but naturally alarm the general public. Americans by and large are in favor of “rehabilitative services for [non-violent] prisoners as opposed to a punishment only system,” reports an April 2006 Zogby poll. Americans acknowledge that the penal system, as it exists today, is failing both prisoners and society as it creates more victims every year. “Americans have looked at the 30-year experiment on … [Read more...]

Time magazine’s recent look at youth ministry in American churches concluded that during the past 20 years or so youth ministers have figured the way to attract teens to their groups was to package biblical content in pop-culture gimmicks. Time magazine’s recent look at youth ministry in American churches concluded that during the past 20 years or so youth ministers have figured the way to attract teens to their groups was to package biblical content in pop-culture gimmicks. The magazine then identified what it calls a new trend in churches to offer more Bible-based truth than entertainment. “Their conversion has been sparked by the recognition that sugarcoated Christianity, popular in the 1980s and early ’90s, has caused growing numbers of kids to turn away not just from attending youth-fellowship activities but also from practicing their faith at all,” Time said Oct. 31. Scholars have said the spiritual drift among young Christians can be attributed to a lack of knowledge about their faith, the magazine added, and now churches are trying to “reverse the flow by focusing less on amusement and more on Scripture.” As a result, Bible-based youth ministries are enjoying great success these … [Read more...]

Until he was in his mid-30s, things of God weren’t very important to Jeff Woodrich. But earlier this month he was ordained to the gospel ministry. WALKER – Until he was in his mid-30s, things of God weren’t very important to Jeff Woodrich. But earlier this month he was ordained to the gospel ministry. The building contractor was faithful in church attendance – twice a year, regular as clockwork, he could be found at Judson Baptist. But except for Easter and Christmas, Woodrich said in a recent conversation with the Message, he worshipped the gods of success and self-centeredness. “I’ve lived my whole life within two miles of where I was born,” said Woodrich, now 48. He was a cabinet maker and contractor; owned a paint and body shop; performed professional real estate inspections and was a professional restoration consultant on plantation and vintage homes. In addition, he was a ‘hard-drinking, hard-living, self-centered’ person, Woodrich says. Life hit bottom for him when he was left to rear two half-grown sons alone. “The Lord drew me near one night about 3 in the morning,” Woodrich said. “I knew I had a choice to make between my old lifestyle and something I knew nothing about, so … [Read more...]