PINEVILLE – In addition to celebrating the $100,000 gift received from Southern Baptists of Texas, as reported in the April 6 issue of the Baptist Message, Louisiana College board of trustees unanimously passed a revised Christian commitment policy at the board’s late-March meeting. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor PINEVILLE – In addition to celebrating the $100,000 gift received from Southern Baptists of Texas, as reported in the April 6 issue of the Baptist Message, Louisiana College board of trustees unanimously passed a revised Christian commitment policy at the board’s late-March meeting. They also passed revised committee structure and personnel issues policies. “We want our faculty, staff and administrators to exemplify a Christian lifestyle,” said Tim Johnson, chairman of the board of trustees and pastor of First Baptist Church of Choudrant. “That’s what sets us apart from other institutions: We are a liberal arts college that is distinctively Christian. “The issue here is not individual sin, but the concept of exemplifying a Christian lifestyle,” Johnson continued. “What we’re trying to do is to impact our world for Christ, and we expect our administrators and faculty to set the … [Read more...]

FLORIEN – Nearly 400 people gathered April 7 at a benefit singing at Florien’s Pisgah Baptist Church for burn victim Donald Spears, his wife Connie, and their family. By Tammy Sharp Special to the Message FLORIEN – Nearly 400 people gathered April 7 at a benefit singing at Florien’s Pisgah Baptist Church for burn victim Donald Spears, his wife Connie, and their family. “Jesus said that all will know that we are His disciples by the love we show one another,” said Jimmy Clark, pastor of Pisgah Baptist. “And that’s what we’re here to do tonight, show Brother Donald and Sister Connie how much we love them.” Six-Mile Baptist Church Choir, the Slaughter Family, the Crosby Trio, and the Southern Plainsmen Quartet among others performed Southern Gospel favorites to a crowd that spilled into the church’s foyer, parking area and fellowship hall, where technicians quickly set up video and audio equipment for the overflow. Pisgah Baptist deacons, who organized the singing, also presented a love offering for the Spears family that totaled more than $12,000.  At least $9,000 of that offering was taken up Friday night. On November 3, 2005, Spears, a Southern Baptist minister, was engulfed in flames when a … [Read more...]

rst time students from Corban College in Salem, Ore., came here, it was over Christmas break. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor NEW ORLEANS – The first time students from Corban College in Salem, Ore., came here, it was over Christmas break. They’ve been to New Orleans on disaster relief mission trips twice since, and plan to return in May. “I saw how much need was left to do and it wasn’t getting done,” said Freshman Jennifer Thorpe during the spring break missions trip, her second to New Orleans. “... The hardest thing for me was removing people’s possessions, realizing it’s their whole life and having it taken away.” Corban College students traveled perhaps farther than did any other group – 2,700 miles – to be among the 2,500 or more Baptist college students from across the nation who converged on New Orleans for Spring Break mission trips in March. Students also were from New York (1,300 miles), Washington state (2,557 miles from Pullman) and even Canada – 2,489 miles from Calgary. “We’re in a pretty safe part of the world in Oregon,” said first-timer and Junior Brent Fahsholz. “I can’t really understand what they went through here; I can’t really sympathize. But I can help. I’m not … [Read more...]

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (BP) – In the late 1970s, First Baptist Church of Bay Minette was reminded of a biblical principle about stewardship – God will honor our faithful giving. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor BAY MINETTE, Ala. (BP) – In the late 1970s, First Baptist Church of Bay Minette was reminded of a biblical principle about stewardship – God will honor our faithful giving. When they dropped their Cooperative Program (CP) Missions giving from 18 to 12 percent, the church’s total receipts dropped to the point that for the first time in years, they didn’t meet their budget needs. The pastor wanted to drop the percentage to 10 percent – the deacons held the line at 12, but for a second year, the church failed to meet its budget needs. Henry Cox was called as senior pastor in 1981 and that year the CP Missions percentage was raised to 14 percent. “We met our budget in that next church year and we have met and exceeded our budget needs every year since,” Cox said. “CP Missions fits in with God’s wonderful plan of economy. I think as you give, God allows you to become a channel rather than a reservoir. If you stop up that channel by hoarding the money, you abort God’s plan … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Collegiate Ministry in Louisiana will change forever May 15. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Collegiate Ministry in Louisiana will change forever May 15. That’s when long-time state collegiate director John Moore will leave Louisiana to work with LifeWay Christian Resources’ network partnership program in Nashville, Tenn. “I’m so grateful to Louisiana Baptists,” Moore said. “They invested in me as a young person. “Their giving to the Cooperative Program helped pay my expenses to go to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” continued Moore, who was recently named as one of the school’s 2006 distinguished alumni. “And they’ve provided a place of service for 29 1/2 years. “Even in difficult days financially, Louisiana Baptists saw the value of investing in college students through the BCM,” Moore added. “They have invested their time, money and energy so we could serve college students.” A former BCM campus president and summer missionary, Moore felt called to work in collegiate ministry while attending Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. “I had a real sense that God was calling me to do that sort of ministry,” Moore said. “When I went to … [Read more...]

HORNBECK--After 16 years, the Airharts are calling it quits, “unless God has a different idea,” Buddy Airhart, a Southern Baptist minister, told a crowd of about 100 people gathered at his mother’s house for the annual Easter Celebration on Saturday, April 15. By Tammy Sharp Special to the Message HORNBECK – After 16 years, the Airharts are calling it quits, “unless God has a different idea,” Buddy Airhart, a Southern Baptist minister, told a crowd of about 100 people gathered at his mother’s house for the annual Easter Celebration on Saturday, April 15. Carol Airhart and her husband, Billy, now deceased, began the big Easter bash in 1990 as a blood drive for Billy’s sister, Virginia Hale, who was facing open heart surgery at the time. “That year we had about 50 people show up, and we loaded everybody up to go donate blood,” Carol said. Since then, the celebration has grown to involve the whole community. “It’s not just a family thing. It’s an all-God’s-children thing,” Carol said. In 1995, the Airharts hosted the biggest celebration ever, with about 500 people in attendance. One guest, Pinkus Spears, made corn meal while a local law enforcement officer, Gary Howell, demonstrated drug enforcement … [Read more...]

LEESVILLE – When Helping Hands Storefront Ministry Director Modie Philips prayed about whether to continue offering English as a second language (ESL), a program which was experiencing a major slump in activity, her answer came in a card from a former student. By Tammy Sharp Special to the Message LEESVILLE – When Helping Hands Storefront Ministry Director Modie Philips prayed about whether to continue offering English as a second language (ESL), a program which was experiencing a major slump in activity, her answer came in a card from a former student. “Stefan was our student 10 years ago,” Phillips said. “He was from Germany and stayed with his sister and her husband at Fort Polk. He would ride his bicycle every week from Fort Polk to North Leesville for his lesson. That’s a long way. “And now I’ve got this card from him,” Phillips continued. “He says he’ll never forget us for helping him learn English. It’s helped him find a very good job, and now he has a nice home, and he’s married. I know that’s God’s answer to my pray. We should continue to help people in this area.” With renewed vigor, Philips is determined to help the nearly 4,300 people in Vernon Parish who speak a language other than … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. – New Orleans Pastor Eddie Scott has been invited to preach the keynote sermon at the worship service for the National African American Fellowship (NAAF), which will meet in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 13-14 in Greensboro. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor GREENSBORO, N.C. – New Orleans Pastor Eddie Scott has been invited to preach the keynote sermon at the worship service for the National African American Fellowship (NAAF), which will meet in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 13-14 in Greensboro. NAAF counts more than 4,500 churches as members. Pastors and church leaders from across the nation are expected to participate in NAAF’s annual two-day gathering, which starts this year with the June 11 evening worship service at Immanuel Baptist Church in Greensboro. “We’re excited to have Pastor Scott preach for us,” said Mark Croston, NAAF president and pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va. “Pastor Scott has a growing reputation as a fine pastor, and we want people across the nation to hear what he has to say.” He was surprised by the invitation, but was glad for the … [Read more...]

MCNEILL, Miss. – Bivocational ministers from across the Southern Baptist Convention will gather May 6 at the Pearl River Baptist Association Camp for their annual meeting. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer MCNEILL, Miss. – Bivocational ministers from across the Southern Baptist Convention will gather May 6 at the Pearl River Baptist Association Camp for their annual meeting. Originally scheduled at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, the meeting was moved to Mississippi because of a lack of hotel space in the city ravaged by two two hurricanes and breached levees. The camp is located 25 miles north of Slidell. Testimonies from people impacted by Hurricane Katrina, music by Pearl River Baptist Church in Albany, Miss., and a video produced by the Louisiana Baptist Convention about the storm’s impact in New Orleans are among the planned activities. “We’ll also focus on rebuilding churches in Mississippi and Louisiana that were damaged by the recent hurricane,” said Gary Mitchell, Louisiana Baptist Convention small church strategist and a longtime SBC leader in bivocational ministry. Called “Bivos Helping Bivos,” the bivocational ministers and their laity will help two churches damaged by … [Read more...]

HAUGHTON – Gene Gibson said a fire that destroyed most of Beulah Land Baptist Church three years ago was the best thing that ever happened to his congregation. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer HAUGHTON – Gene Gibson said a fire that destroyed most of Beulah Land Baptist Church three years ago was the best thing that ever happened to his congregation. “We lost our material possessions but gained something else,” said the pastor of the Northwest Louisiana church. Six months after the fire, the church building was rebuilt and the membership increased from 65 to 100. “I’ve not been able to put the reason on why that happened, except that it was all God,” Gibson said. “But the fire sparked a desire to get God’s work done. This was done because of the willingness of our members.” Martha Potts, a member since 1995, had this to say: “This church is my rock, just as Jesus is my rock. We’re like one big, happy family because we have fun when we fellowship and worship.” In a day when Southern Baptists last year baptized the lowest number of new believers in their churches since 1993 (see related article, page eight), Beulah Land Baptist is bucking that trend. Last year, the church baptized 46 new … [Read more...]