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"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Kelley recognized for decade of service at New Orleans Seminary

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary alumni honored Chuck Kelley for 10 years of service as president during the school’s alumni and friends luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., June 14. Three others were honored with distinguished alumni and service awards. “You have been a great blessing to us these 10 years,” Ron McCaskill, national alumni president, told Kelley. “We express our heartfelt gratitude for your leadership. During difficult times, God raises up great leaders. We thank God for sending us a leader who has seen us through the waters.” The capacity crowd responded with a standing ovation, and McCaskill presented Kelley with a love offering collected by the national alumni officers. “Thank you very much ... for this very kind and generous act,” Kelley said. “It truly has been a wonderful 10 years. It has been great to serve this seminary and this body of alumni.” Kelley then presented John Moore, state director of Baptist Campus Ministry for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and Emil Turner, executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, with distinguished alumni awards. He also gave a special distinguished service award to Joe … [Read more...]

Mora leadership needed, U.S. Secretary of State says

GREENSBORO (BP)–Without America’s moral leadership, the world could easily descend into chaos and despotism, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said June 14 at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C. By Gregory Tomlin Baptist Press GREENSBORO (BP) – Without America’s moral leadership, the world could easily descend into chaos and despotism, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said June 14 at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C. “The weight of international leadership is not borne easily,” Rice said, “but we as Americans are more than equal to this challenge, and we must be, for if we imagine a world without American leadership we are led inescapably to this solemn conclusion: If America does not serve great purposes, if we do not rally other nations to fight intolerance and support peace and defend freedom, and to help give all hope who suffer oppression, then our world will drift toward tragedy.” American inaction will result in the strong abusing the weak and inevitable threats “to the very heart of our nation,” Rice said. The secretary’s 30-minute address followed videotaped comments from President Bush the previous day. … [Read more...]

Bush greets SBC via videotape

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – On the same day U.S. President George W. Bush met in Baghdad for a surprise five-hour visit with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, he spoke for five minutes via a surprise videotape during the first session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in the Greensboro Coliseum. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – On the same day U.S. President George W. Bush met in Baghdad for a surprise five-hour visit with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, he spoke for five minutes via a surprise videotape during the first session of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in the Greensboro Coliseum. Pledging support for pro-life causes, fair judges and faith-based ministries to those in need, Bush first recognized two men – SBC President Bobby Welch and legendary evangelist Billy Graham. “I’m pleased to join you for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Bush told about 18,000 registered messengers and guests June 13, recognizing SBC President Bobby Welch as “a man whose life has been defined by service, as a minister of faith and a soldier in uniform.” Welch, who is also the pastor of First Baptist Church of Daytona … [Read more...]

Bush signs into law broadcast indecency fine increase

WASHINGTON (BP) – Broadcasters who transgress the federal government’s indecency standards now will have to pay as much as $325,000 per violation. By Baptist Press Staff WASHINGTON (BP) – Broadcasters who transgress the federal government’s indecency standards now will have to pay as much as $325,000 per violation. President Bush recently signed into law legislation increasing by tenfold the maximum fine for indecency on television and radio. The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act increases the maximum fine that can be levied by the Federal Communications Commission from $32,500 to $325,000. During the signing ceremony at the White House, Bush commended Congress for sending legislation to him that will “help American parents by making broadcast television and radio more family friendly.” “Parents are the first line of defense [in supervising what children watch and listen to], but broadcasters and the electronics industry must play a valuable role in protecting our children from obscene and indecent programming,” the president told an audience that included pro-family advocates and members of Congress. “Unfortunately, in recent years, broadcast programming has too often pushed the bounds of … [Read more...]

Volunteers bring Jesus to Mississippi trailer park

BILOXI, Miss. – Biloxi Pointe Mobile Home Park has had a national audience. It was featured on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – After the Storm, Mississippi” March 22. The residents were given washers and dryers and a Sears’ gift card by the ABC show. By Teresa Dickens For LifeWay BILOXI, Miss. – Biloxi Pointe Mobile Home Park has had a national audience. It was featured on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – After the Storm, Mississippi” March 22. The residents were given washers and dryers and a Sears’ gift card by the ABC show. On May 19-21, the FEMA mobile home park was visited by a different “makeover” group. The six-member team from First Baptist Church of Madison, Miss., was on a spiritual makeover mission. They were there to conduct a Vacation Bible School event. On Friday afternoon, the team conducted a carnival-type event and handed out fliers to every unit about a Saturday five-hour Bible club. The weekend event concluded on Sunday with a worship service. The Madison efforts resulted in 13 children coming out for the Saturday event under the shade trees adjacent to the park and six returned for the Sunday morning service. Parents and other adults wandered in and out of the … [Read more...]

A 15-year CP increase

HARRISBURG, Penn. (BP) – For each of the last 15 years, the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey has increased its giving through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ channel of empowering its missions thrust throughout the world. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor HARRISBURG, Penn. (BP) – For each of the last 15 years, the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey has increased its giving through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ channel of empowering its missions thrust throughout the world. Penn/South Jersey doesn’t plan to stop. Executive Director David Waltz’s goal is that the two-state convention, which consists of 375 churches and missions, continue increasing its CP percentage each year until it forwards 50 percent of the gifts from its congregations. At 24.8 percent this year, it’s nearly halfway to its goal. “Part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus is to give yourself away,” Waltz said. “We give to the Cooperative Program because it is the right thing to do. It’s our channel for giving beyond ourselves, giving that honors God.” Sometimes the state convention – which is located in a “new work” (non-southern) area of the nation – increases its … [Read more...]

Cancer draws SBC professor closer to God

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Just 11 days before Christmas, Don Whitney received three words from his doctor that no one wants to hear: “You have cancer.” By Jeff Robinson Southern Seminary Communications LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – Just 11 days before Christmas, Don Whitney received three words from his doctor that no one wants to hear: “You have cancer.” Whitney, associate professor of biblical spirituality and author of numerous books on prayer and other Christian disciplines, was stunned. There were no signs that anything was amiss in his body –  no pain, no bleeding, no mysterious lumps. He felt perfectly healthy. The news came from a routine medical checkup that included a colonoscopy. “I think I was kind of numb at first,” Whitney recalled. “I tried to ask some questions and I tried to write down [the doctor’s] answers because I knew I wouldn’t remember. My hand was quivering as I tried to write down what he said. “My mind was tumbling [with] a thousand things running through my head,” he continued. “I was trying to stay with the subject at hand and ask him questions [such as] ‘What’s next?’ and ‘How bad is this?’” After two surgeries for colon cancer and a painful recovery period, Whitney is … [Read more...]

A debt owed to the CP

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (BP) – Calvary Baptist Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho, acknowledges the unending debt it owes and the unceasing gift it gives to the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s method of funding missions, missionaries and seminary training. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (BP) – Calvary Baptist Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho, acknowledges the unending debt it owes and the unceasing gift it gives to the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s method of funding missions, missionaries and seminary training. Birthed with CP Missions money, Calvary Baptist in 1951 was the first Southern Baptist church in southeastern Idaho. It since has given life to at least a dozen other churches – its latest offspring is a granddaughter church across the state in Hayden, north of Interstate 90 in the Idaho panhandle. “When we’re involved in missions, the Cooperative Program is always there to help,” said Kirk Casey, Calvary’s pastor who also is a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduate. “When we partner up to do missions work, it’s a joint partnership with all Southern Baptists through CP Missions.” Calvary is involved in CP missions … [Read more...]

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ upheld by federal judge

BOSTON (BP) – A federal judge April 24 upheld the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on homosexuals, dismissing a lawsuit filed by 12 former members of the armed forces who argue the policy is unconstitutional. By Michael Foust Baptist Press BOSTON (BP) – A federal judge April 24 upheld the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on homosexuals, dismissing a lawsuit filed by 12 former members of the armed forces who argue the policy is unconstitutional. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr., a nominee of President Clinton, ruled that there is no “fundamental right” for homosexuals to serve in the military. “[N]o controlling case has held that homosexuals generally, let alone the subset of that class that the plaintiffs comprise – openly homosexual service members as defined by [federal law] – constitute a ‘suspect class’ for equal protection purposes,” O’Toole, who serves in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, wrote in a 42-page opinion. “Indeed, in two cases where it might have agreed to such a holding, Romer and Lawrence, the Supreme Court rather conspicuously avoided doing so.” In Romer v. Evans and Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court expanded rights for homosexuals. … [Read more...]

At age 69, she was ready for missions work

BURKINA FASO, West Africa (BP) – Southern Baptist missionary Elsie McCall, 69, admits she gets a little “restless” from time to time. By Shawn Hendricks IMB Staff Writer BURKINA FASO, West Africa (BP) – Southern Baptist missionary Elsie McCall, 69, admits she gets a little “restless” from time to time. While some of her friends enjoy retirement and more time with their families, McCall – a single woman who jokingly calls herself an “unclaimed jewel” – was ready for something more several years ago. That desire to still be useful led her to overseas missions work in Burkina Faso, West Africa – a move she calls “coming home.” “When I go to America, after about three weeks, I’m ready to come back to Burkina Faso,” said McCall, who is in her second term on the field. “As long as I stay healthy, I’m going to stay here.” McCall was one of the first people to serve with the International Mission Board’s Masters Program that began in 1999. The program gives people age 50 and up opportunities to work alongside career missionaries for at least a two- to three-year term. When McCall discovered the program, she was the church and communities ministries director for the South Florida Baptist Association in … [Read more...]