JERSEY CITY, N.J.(BP)--Trustees of the North American Mission Board met May 2, their first meeting since the resignation of NAMB President Bob Reccord. The board approved 74 new missionaries and 63 SBC-endorsed chaplains, elected new officers and approved a resolution expressing appreciation for Reccord’s term of service. By Martin King For Baptist Press JERSEY CITY, N.J.(BP)--Trustees of the North American Mission Board met May 2, their first meeting since the resignation of NAMB President Bob Reccord. The board approved 74 new missionaries and 63 SBC-endorsed chaplains, elected new officers and approved a resolution expressing appreciation for Reccord’s term of service. The mission board’s trustees also heard encouraging reports on NAMB’s ministries across the United States and Canada, and they were affirmed and challenged by SBC President Bobby Welch concerning their search for Reccord’s successor. “Your choice for the next leader of this ministry may be the greatest ministry contribution of your life,” Welch told the trustees, about 40 in number at the meeting. “Don’t mess up. On behalf of 16 million Southern Baptists in 45,000 churches, don’t mess up. You’ve got to get this right because the … [Read more...]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – Expressing displeasure over what they call a “narrowing of cooperation through exclusionary theological and political agendas” in the Southern Baptist Convention, a group of Southern Baptist conservatives issued a document May 3 calling on the convention to repent of such behavior. By Don Hinkle The (Missouri) Pathway MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – Expressing displeasure over what they call a “narrowing of cooperation through exclusionary theological and political agendas” in the Southern Baptist Convention, a group of Southern Baptist conservatives issued a document May 3 calling on the convention to repent of such behavior. Called the “Memphis Declaration,” the 990-word document is the culmination of two days of discussions involving about 31 Southern Baptists from a variety of perspectives. Much of the concern expressed by participants was motivated by recent developments at the SBC’s International Mission Board and with other SBC entities and leaders. “We gathered together in Memphis to share our concerns and articulate our hopes and dreams for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention,” said Benjamin Cole, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, and facilitator of … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Louisiana College head coach Tim Whitman learned early Monday morning that his softball team had received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Softball National Tournament. The fifth ranked Lady Wildcats will travel to Indianola, Iowa for the eight-team regional that will be hosted by Simpson University. Indianola is approximately 10 miles south of Des Moines. By Louisiana College Sports Information PINEVILLE – Louisiana College head coach Tim Whitman learned early Monday morning that his softball team had received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Softball National Tournament. The fifth ranked Lady Wildcats will travel to Indianola, Iowa for the eight-team regional that will be hosted by Simpson University. Indianola is approximately 10 miles south of Des Moines. Despite being the top ranked team in the Atlantic Region according to the last NCAA Regional rankings, LC (36-7) was sent out of their region and are in a regional that features the defending national champion and current top ranked team, St. Thomas (Minn.). LC is the three-seed in the regional. Five of the eight teams are ranked in the top 25. "Well, we’re in," Whitman said. "This is quite possibly the toughest … [Read more...]

FREMONT, Calif. (BP) – The primary reason Family Bible Fellowship is part of the Southern Baptist Convention is the Cooperative Program. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor FREMONT, Calif. (BP) – The primary reason Family Bible Fellowship is part of the Southern Baptist Convention is the Cooperative Program. It’s not just because Cooperative Program dollars helped start the church in 1988, but because of what the CP Missions endeavor stands for, pastor Horatio Jones noted. “We try to make a difference in our community and around the world,” Jones said. “The Cooperative Program is a way in which we can fulfill the biblical mandate. ... The Cooperative Program is the very essence of the reason for the existence of the church.” Family Bible Fellowship gives more to CP Missions than any other predominantly African American church in California, said Tom Kelly, recently retired strategist with African American churches in the California Southern Baptist Convention. “From day one we’ve always been a strong supporter and consistent supporter of CP Missions,” Jones said. “We stand with the SBC’s strong commitment to reach all people and fulfill the Great Commission. “Our philosophy is that if we … [Read more...]

“You know how Scripture talks about your life like it’s a house. II Corinthians 5:1 is one, but our favorite is Revelation 3:20. Jesus says, ‘I stand at your door and knock. If any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in....’ By Joe McKeever BAGNO Director of Missions Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from Dr. McKeever’s blog. If you’re interested in a running commentary on New Orleans, check out www.joemckeever.com. It’s updated sometimes daily. “You know how Scripture talks about your life like it’s a house. II Corinthians 5:1 is one, but our favorite is Revelation 3:20. Jesus says, ‘I stand at your door and knock. If any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in....’ “I have gotten that wrong all these years. Often, when presenting that to children, I would draw a picture of a house that Jesus wants to enter. It would be a lovely suburban house, the type you might live in. But that’s exactly wrong. “The house Jesus is talking about is one of our flooded, ruined, devastated houses. The shingles are missing, the outside walls carry the high water level stains, and the inside is ruined. And here you are (I sat on the piano stool, dropped my head, and pulled myself … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (BP) – The United States House of Representatives has approved a measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus’ name at public events. By Baptist Press Staff WASHINGTON (BP) – The United States House of Representatives has approved a measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus’ name at public events. The provision gained approval as part of a $513 billion    Department of Defense authorization bill, which the House passed in a 396-31 vote May 11. The Armed Services Committee had attached the prayer measure to the overall bill before sending it to the full House. The Senate will still have to approve the language as part of the authorization legislation. The new language says: “Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible.” The provision seeks to correct what some House members have considered inappropriate military restrictions, especially on evangelical chaplains who normally follow the New Testament pattern of praying in Jesus’ name. The Air Force issued … [Read more...]

Week of May 15, 2006 ‘Crossover Triad’ to kick off SBC annual meeting ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, N.C., will be blanketed by Southern Baptist volunteers Saturday and Sunday, June 10-11, when “Crossover Triad 2006” comes to the area the weekend before the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Greensboro (June 13-14). Thousands of volunteers representing hundreds of SBC churches will cover the three-city area, taking the Gospel outside church walls and into the streets. The campaign is jointly sponsored by the North American Mission Board, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Southern Baptist churches of the Piedmont, Pilot Mountain and Central Triad Associations. Crossover is a comprehensive campaign to reach a significant segment of that unchurched population. Crossover events will include witnessing by college students on area campuses; sports clinics designed to teach basketball, baseball and football skills; block parties with food and games, hosted by participating churches; and door-to-door witnessing. For additional information about Crossover Triad 2006 or to register as a volunteer, visit www.crossovertriad.org. Chapman … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Church Hostess Zelda Beall took me seriously last week when I wrote that I would like to be invited to churches. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor PINEVILLE – Church Hostess Zelda Beall took me seriously last week when I wrote that I would like to be invited to churches. She asked me to come for Senior Adult Day at Trinity Baptist Church, and that sounded like a good idea to me. We [Kelly, Brian and I] had talked about making a center spread in honor of senior adults, but that didn’t happen. Participating in and writing about a Senior Adult recognition would be one way of honoring those who have led the way. By the way, please let me know if your church has a real gung-ho program for its senior adults, and of the Southern Baptist seniors in Louisiana who really should have an article written about them because they have made an effective difference. We’re also looking for great moms, great dads and great kids, so send in your suggestions for all – or any! – of these to karen@baptistmessage.com. But about Trinity. Let’s start with announcements. They need 155 clean, gallon-size jugs to make an igloo for VBS, which has an Arctic theme this summer. This made me think that maybe … [Read more...]

Week of May 15, 2006 Potpourri Kingston Road church: Special service honoring law enforcement personnel; June 4, 10:30 a.m.; Troopers  Bill Green and Terry Richardson, guest speakers;  Brothers in Christ, musical guest; Trey Lewis, pastor. ALBANY – Old Zion Hill church:  The Wilsons in concert; May 28, 6 p.m.; free admission; Jerry Chapman, minister of music; Bobby Stults, pastor. PINEVILLE – Pineville Park church:  Gwen “Miss Chocolate” Williams, guest speaker; May 28, 6 p.m.; Gregory R. Carroll, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Calvary church:  Charles Quarles, guest speaking on the book, The Da Vinci Code; May 24, 6 p.m.; B. David Brooks, pastor. JONESVILLE – Lismore church:  Evangelism rally; May 21, 5:30 p.m.; Scotty McDowell, guest speaker; The Dunlaps, musical guest; Mack Walker, associational evangelism director; Ken Gilmore, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Parkview church:  “Making Love Last Forever” seminar; May 27, 9:30 a.m. - noon; James and Gwenda Lamb, seminar leaders; free admission; David L. Shaw, pastor. NEW IBERIA – Highland church:  Charles Quarles, guest speaking the book, The Da Vinci Code; May 28, 6-7:30 p.m.; David Denton, pastor. Youth HAUGHTON – First church:  Children’s choir concert; May … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – At least 15 books have been writtne by Christian authors in response to Dan Brown's runaway best-seller, The Da Vinci Code. Baptist Press has 17 articles and a special button that takes readers directly to that series. The Trinity Broadcasting Network even had an hour-long special on it last Saturday. Why such an outcry? By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – At least 15 books have been written by Christian authors in response to Dan Brown’s runaway best-seller, The Da Vinci Code. Baptist Press –www.bpnews.net – has 17 articles and a special button that takes readers directly to that series. The Trinity Broadcasting Network even had an hour-long special on it last Saturday. Why such an outcry? DVC is a fascinating read about subjects most Americans know very little about, including secrets, secret societies and religious conspiracies dating back nearly to the time of Christ. The concern is that DVC attacks such key doctrines as the deity of Christ, the reliability of the gospels and the bodily resurrection of Jesus, according to many evangelical Christians and even Catholics. The book – and movie of the same title set to open May 19 with Tom Hanks in the leading role – also … [Read more...]