WASHINGTON (BP) – South Dakota’s enactment of a ban on abortion has boosted hopes the new law might be the vehicle for a reversal of Roe v. Wade, but Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said recently he doubts the current Supreme Court would overturn the 1973 opinion and doesn’t know if it ever will. By Tim Strode Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) – South Dakota’s enactment of a ban on abortion has boosted hopes the new law might be the vehicle for a reversal of Roe v. Wade, but Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said recently he doubts the current Supreme Court would overturn the 1973 opinion and doesn’t know if it ever will. Speaking to a gathering of Swiss professors and students March 8, Scalia, whose opposition to Roe is well known, said when asked if the highly criticized ruling would be reversed by the high court, “I have no idea. I have no idea whether it will be. “It is not likely to be overturned with the current court, because there are still five justices on our court who voted in favor of Roe vs. Wade,” Scalia told a group at the University of Freiburg. “So, if I had to guess, I would say, ‘Not yet – maybe not [ever] – but certainly not yet.” Though Scalia said he did not have an … [Read more...]

Week of March 20, 2006 Potpourri PINEVILLE – Louisiana College: Katerina Zaitseva to present a piano recital; March 23, 7:30 p.m. in the Presser Recital Hall; Joe Aguillard, president. DERIDDER – Emory Wallace Retreat Center: Is now open and accepting retreat reservations after having been closed due to housing hurricane evacuees; for retreat information, contact Kim Hughes at (337) 463-3506; Malvin Wagnon, manager. DUBACH – First church: Associational VBS clinic; April 4, 6:15 p.m.; Terry Ganey, pastor. DENHAM SPRINGS – Calvary church:  Associational VBS clinic; April 1, 9 a.m.-noon; Rhett Major, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Homewood church:  Associational VBS clinic; April 3, 6 p.m.; Jimmy Koonce, pastor. Youth SLIDELL – Grace Memorial church:  “The Secret of My Sucess” musical presented by the children’s choir; April 2, 6:15 p.m.; Marty Stone, minister of music; Bob Heustess, pastor. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp: Preteen retreat; for ages 6-12;  March 31, 5 p.m. - April 1, after lunch; Jerry Chaddick, guest speaker; Glenn Price, music; $45 per person, includes 3 meals and lodging for one night; for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp:  Father/Son retreat; … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE – Churches should not construct buildings to create a monument, but rather as a tool to accomplish the Great Commission, Gary Nicholson said last week. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer BATON ROUGE – Churches should not construct buildings to create a monument, but rather as a tool to accomplish the Great Commission, Gary Nicholson said last week. “A good user-friendly building will help you accomplish that task,” Nicholson told approximately 85 people who attended the 2006 Louisiana Church Building Conference at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. “You only have one chance to make that first impression,” said the architect at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn. “Right now, for a church in New Orleans to have its lights on is a good impression, but in other places, churches must do much more.” Nicholson was one of several speakers at the conference, which was sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention Cooperative Program and the Church Architecture Department of LifeWay Christian Resources. Throughout the day, participants learned how to lead their congregation in making the best decisions in building, expanding or improving their facilities while fulfilling the … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Instead of soaking up some sun on a Florida beach during spring break, Georgia Southern University student Merideth Turner spent her week-long vacation clearing debris inside a home in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – Instead of soaking up some sun on a Florida beach during spring break, Georgia Southern University student Merideth Turner  spent her week-long vacation clearing debris inside a home in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. “This has brought us all together,” Turner said last week, as she was riding with a van load of her fellow Baptist Collegiate Ministry peers. “It’s amazing how we have worked together and God has blessed what we’ve done.” Turner spoke a day after her team completed a mud-out job inside a home left water-damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The students completed the job in two days. “We cleaned it down to the concrete level,” she explained. “All that’s left is the flooring and framing. We worked our tails off getting this done a day earlier than expected.” However, the Georgia Southern BCM is not alone. Since last October, thousands of BCM students from Louisiana and across the nation have participated in disaster … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- After ripping Sheetrock from a moldy closet, Trista Wright was removing the debris when a flash of green caught her eye. By Keith Manuel Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- After ripping Sheetrock from a moldy closet, Trista Wright was removing the debris when a flash of green caught her eye. Wright, on a spring break mission trip from Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, Georgia, reached into the debris and pulled out an old, grubby $100 bill. As she dug around in the debris a little more, she discovered a long-hidden hole in the wall, which served as a makeshift safe, and pulled out another $100 bill, then another and another. “At first, I thought it was Monopoly money. It was just stacks of $100 bills. The money was very old,” she said. “My friend and I were joking just yesterday about finding a secret hole of treasure.” When the students hastily totaled the money, it was more than $30,000. The discovery presented a new problem: “What do we do now?” After consulting with the leaders of the mission trip to New Orleans, the group decided to notify the local authorities. The sheriff’s department came and verified the home had been in the family for several … [Read more...]

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – International Mission Board Trustee Chairman Tom Hatley issued an “open letter” March 7 to all Southern Baptists and a much longer letter to all Southern Baptist pastors, addressing recent decisions by IMB trustees. By Staff Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – International Mission Board Trustee Chairman Tom Hatley issued an “open letter” March 7 to all Southern Baptists and a much longer letter to all Southern Baptist pastors, addressing recent decisions by IMB trustees. The letters accompany detailed background material outlining the trustees’ votes on glossolalia (the practice of tongues), the use of private prayer language by missionary candidates and the candidates’ mode of baptism. Southern Baptists can access both letters, the new policy on use of tongues, the guideline on baptism and additional background materials at www.imb.org, the International Mission Board’s Web site. “I have addressed (the detailed explanation) to pastors because they are the teachers and guardians of the Word for their congregations,” Hatley said in his letter to Southern Baptists. “But feel free to look over their shoulders and read this material. “There has been no small controversy concerning … [Read more...]

BUNKIE – Peace: That’s what I felt when I entered the worship center at First Baptist Church here. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor BUNKIE – Peace: That’s what I felt when I entered the worship center at First Baptist Church here. Sunlight streaming through stained glass windows in shades of blue, complemented by walls painted in the very palest blue, cast a reverent hush even before a talented pianist started softly playing hymns of his own arrangement. It was easy to worship God in such surroundings, even before a robed choir of more than 30 people led by a great tenor entered the sanctuary. I had gone to First Bunkie because the pastor had sent me a simple “welcome to Louisiana” note in late January; I wanted to know what kind of a  church such a nice pastor would have. First Bunkie is much more than just  “nice.” It’s on mission with God, and that starts with prayer, including prayer for their two missions. They have a 19-member prayer team, and give significant attention to prayer. Pastor’s wife Linda Edwards’ storytelling skills warrant a story all on their own; I was spellbound with her description of a moment in the life of Joseph and his brothers. And in the nursery/young … [Read more...]

While the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is probably not viewed as the premiere mission offering by most Southern Baptists – the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering likely holds that distinction – it is no less important. By Kelly Boggs Editor While the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is probably not viewed as the premiere mission offering by most Southern Baptists – the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering likely holds that distinction – it is no less important. The AAEO currently being promoted in SBC congregations from sea to shining sea, is received for the purpose of providing support for mission endeavors throughout North America. In the Bible Belt, where the vast majority of Southern Baptists dwell, the need for an offering to support missions on our own continent might not seem very critical. However, speaking as one who spent several years ministering in one of the most unchurched areas of the United States, I can assure you the AAEO is worthy of your support. For seven years I was pastor of a church in Oregon, a state that along with Washington and a small portion of northwest Idaho comprises the Northwest Baptist Convention. It was there that I learned firsthand how important the AAEO is for … [Read more...]

PINE – “Thank God for country boys with chainsaws.” By Andi Cook Special to the Baptist Message PINE – “Thank God for country boys with chainsaws.” This was the heartfelt cry of Pastor Wayne Cook after Katrina roared through Washington Parish, toppling ancient oaks and tossing towering pines across virtually every power line and stretch of roadway in the rural parish two hours north of New Orleans. After Cook climbed over and ducked under over fifty trees littering the two-mile stretch of road between his home and Pine First Baptist Church, he found the steeple upside down in the church yard and half the tin roof stripped away, exposing the old damaged shingles underneath. Several windows in the trailers that served as Sunday school space had blown out, allowing rainwater to saturate some of the rooms. Despite the damage, the church was to become the focus of rescue operations for the surrounding rural community. God would reward this faithfulness in the months to come in ways the church never imagined. With no gas, no water, and no power, the parish was paralyzed and seemingly forgotten, as all eyes focused on the devastation in New Orleans. The position of the parish north of the stricken … [Read more...]

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:14 are what drive North American missionary Chet Cantrell – 24/7, 365 days a year. By Mickey Noah North American Mission Board EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:14 are what drive North American missionary Chet Cantrell – 24/7, 365 days a year. For the past 16 years – with his wife Michelle at his side – Cantrell has served as director of the Southern Baptist-supported Christian Activity Center (CAC) in East St. Louis, Ill. – a safe haven for hundreds of children and teenagers growing up in a rough-and-tumble town. East St. Louis is not for sissies – physical or spiritual. The Cantrells are among the 5,300-plus missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Chet is one of eight Southern Baptist missionaries that were highlighted as part of the annual Week of Prayer, March 5-12. The 2006 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering’s goal is $56 million, 100 percent of which is used for missionaries like the Cantrells. “I’m a North American Mission Board missionary. So that means I work for all those people in the pews out there,” Cantrell noted. … [Read more...]