DALTON, Ga. (BP) – Grove Level Baptist Church, where about 1,500 people worship on Sunday mornings in Dalton, Ga., reaches out to its community and beyond in a variety of biblical ways. DALTON, Ga. (BP) – Grove Level Baptist Church, where about 1,500 people worship on Sunday mornings in Dalton, Ga., reaches out to its community and beyond in a variety of biblical ways. The congregation’s outreach starts each week with giving 18 percent of undesignated offerings through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’  unparalleled way of reaching people and supporting missions across America and around the world. “The Cooperative Program provides a structure for missions that I find maturing believers are attracted to,” pastor Charlie Bridges said. “What the Cooperative Program tells these people is that we have a safe way – a tried and tested, most effective way – of partnering in missions in North America and around the world that they can be a part of.” “We’re committed to it,” Jim Bledsoe, associate pastor for missions, evangelism and administration, said of the Cooperative Program. “It works. It brings unity and keeps us focused on what we’re called to do. Two can do more than one is the … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – A group of prayer intercessors met recently at the Baptist Building to send out a mass mailing to the 497 churches across the state they know to have a prayer ministry. ALEXANDRIA – A group of prayer intercessors met recently at the Baptist Building to send out a mass mailing to the 497 churches across the state they know to have a prayer ministry. Each ministry was asked in the mailing from LBC Evangelism team leader Wayne Jenkins to pray specifically this year for one of Louisiana’s 105 state representatives and 39 state senators – which means at least three churches will pray for each lawmaker. “We also need 60 groups to go to the state capitol, one each legislative work day, to pray,” said Carolyn R. Hatcher, director of Intercessors for Louisiana, founded in 2000 to pray specifically for the state’s lawmakers. The annual session started March 27 in Baton Rouge and will go through June 19. … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Joe Aguillard is no stranger to daunting challenges. Even when he was hardly big enough to touch the pedals, he drove a tractor on the family’s rice and cattle farm in southeastern Louisiana. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor PINEVILLE – Joe Aguillard is no stranger to daunting challenges. Even when he was hardly big enough to touch the pedals, he drove a tractor on the family’s rice and cattle farm in southeastern Louisiana. Never once did that tractor get away from him, his mother, Helen Aguillard, reported. “He really grew up knowing how to work,” Mrs. Aguillard said in a recent conversation with the Message. “He was very smart, well-liked.  He had a lot of friends – always at our house.” Aguillard also was athletic – he lettered in football, basketball and track all four years of high school – and he sang in the church choir – his mother thought he was called to music ministry – but none of that came up in the multitude of accolades showered on the eighth president of Louisiana College during inaugural events March 22-23. Instead, he was lauded for his Christian commitment, high moral principles, scholarship, leadership, integrity, and – as entered into the Congressional … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA, La.,-The Louisiana Baptist Convention has called E. Gibbie McMillan of Euless, Texas as the LBC’s director of Men Ministry/Volunteer Missions. An LBC Executive Board subcommittee elected McMillan on March 3. By John Yeats LBC Communications ALEXANDRIA, La. –The Louisiana Baptist Convention has called E. Gibbie McMillan of  Euless, Texas as the LBC’s director of Men Ministry/Volunteer Missions. An LBC Executive Board subcommittee elected McMillan on March 3. “Gibbie McMillan’s return to Louisiana is another powerful illustration of the Lord’s desire to do something extraordinary in our midst and especially with our Disaster Relief ministry and recovery efforts along the coast,” said David Hankins, LBC executive director. “Gibbie’s Cooperative Program-underwritten ministry will take us to another level of revealing the compassion of Jesus in the face of difficult events. Louisiana Southern Baptists are caring people touching the world.” McMillan, a Kentwood native, was licensed and ordained at New Zion Baptist Church in Kentwood, La.  He served Louisiana churches in Baton Rouge, Rayville, Bogalusa and Franklinton. McMillan joins the LBC after three years in a similar role with … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist Foundation will join the Baptist Message in sponsoring the Baptist Golf Fellowship tournaments, Editor Kelly Boggs announced this week. ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist Foundation will join the Baptist Message in sponsoring the Baptist Golf Fellowship tournaments, Editor Kelly Boggs announced this week. The amateur tourney, held each spring and fall for at least the last 25 years, draws golfing pastors and laymen from across the state to two-day events that open with medalist play and close with a scramble. “We’re excited the Foundation is formally joining us,” Boggs said. “For some time now, they have supported the tournament with prizes and their presence. This new relationship will only serve to enhance the tournament.” This spring’s tournament is set for May 8-9 at Cypress Bend Resort and Conference Center near Many. An awards banquet Monday evening will include serious as well as light-hearted trophies, plus a number of door prizes, some of which are of significant value. “I am excited that the Louisiana Baptist Foundation will formally be sponsoring the Baptist Golf Fellowship because it is a great opportunity for ministers and laymen from across the state to meet … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Texas volunteers brought economic and spiritual hope as well as personal encouragement when they were rebuilding in the Bywater area here. By Keith Manuel Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – Texas volunteers brought economic and spiritual hope as well as personal encouragement when they were rebuilding in the Bywater area here. In addition to their manual labor during the week at Grace Baptist Church in the Upper Ninth Ward, the 75-person team ministered door-to-door and invited people to the church Friday evening for an evangelistic event that was to feature 200 pounds of boiled crawfish. “I hope a lot of people come because I don’t think many of us from Texas are going to eat a lot of crawfish,” team leader John Taylor said with a wide grin. Josh Lomax, a youth from Odessa, said the trip, “has reassured me of why I surrendered to the ministry this past year at church camp, to do [ministries] like this.” Team mate Grant Kellar concurred. “I was just so excited to get down here and get my hands dirty; then I found out I could go door-to-door and actually meet the people,” Keller said. “I really wanted to do that and show the people of New Orleans that there are people that care … [Read more...]

NAMELESS – From time to time my Sunday morning experiences will be less than ideal, like a recent Sunday. I will omit the names of the churches because I feel that would be blindsiding them, and I wouldn’t like it if someone did that to me. But consider the following to see if you need to change a few things at your church. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor NAMELESS – From time to time my Sunday morning experiences will be less than ideal, like a recent Sunday. I will omit the names of the churches because I feel that would be blindsiding them, and I wouldn’t like it if someone did that to me. But consider the following to see if you need to change a few things at your church. I had driven by a building with a sign that said it was a ministry of a local church. I was impressed with a church so involved in community ministry and curious to see if I’d feel as loved as the church apparently made its community feel. But when I drove by the church, there was no sign to indicate what time church started. Though there were many cars in the parking lot, there was no sign of life. I saw no one going in or coming out of the building. If there was a parking area for visitors, I could not find it. I didn’t … [Read more...]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Louisiana native Marjorie Jones McCullough, former missionary and national WMU president, died March 18 following a lengthy illness. She was 81. Her funeral was March 25 in Alexandria, La. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Louisiana native Marjorie Jones McCullough, former missionary and national WMU president, died March 18 following a lengthy illness. She was 81. Her funeral was March 25 in Alexandria, La. McCullough was a visionary leader who served on all levels of WMU, including the office of national president from 1986 until 1991, WMU leaders said. “Marjorie was an outstanding, strong leader who was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the future of WMU,” said Wanda S. Lee, executive director-treasurer. Born in Louisiana in 1924, McCullough grew up participating in WMU children’s organizations and developed a heart for missions at an early age. After graduating from Louisiana College in Pine-ville, La., and earning a master’s degree in religious education at the WMU Training School in Louisville, Ky.,  she worked in both the Kentucky and Louisiana WMU offices.  She served in Nigeria and Ghana before being called to the national WMU staff, where she helped to create and name Acteens and … [Read more...]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Robert E. (Bob) Reccord, president of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, will work under several sets of “Executive Level controls” signaled by NAMB’s trustees during a special meeting March 23. By Art Toalston Baptist Press Editor ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Robert E. (Bob) Reccord, president of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, will work under several sets of “Executive Level controls” signaled by NAMB’s trustees during a special meeting March 23. The trustees based their deliberations on a 19-page report by a nine-member trustee task force created in response to an article in the Georgia Baptist Convention’s newsjournal, The Christian Index, which set forth a range of allegations about NAMB’s evangelism and church planting strategies; the size and makeup of its missionary force; and management issues related to Reccord. “We want the Southern Baptist Convention to know we’ve responded to the issues [through the task force report] and because of that response we believe that you can trust what we’re doing here at NAMB,” trustee chairman Barry Holcomb said in a news conference after the meeting. “We want Southern Baptists to know you can trust … [Read more...]

Week of March 27, 2006 Ministers’ Wives Luncheon registration opens GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Registration is underway for the 2006 Ministers’ Wives’ Conference and Luncheon. The conference luncheon will take place during the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 13 annual meeting session in the Guilford Ballroom of the Greensboro Sheraton at the Four Seasons Hotel at noon. The guest speaker will be George Andersen, an internationally recognized interior designer and author. One of Andersen’s earliest projects was to work with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on the Diplomatic Oval Reception Room in the White House. On an international scale, Andersen’s interior designs can be found in London, Monte Carlo, Helsinki and Jakarta, Indonesia. Tickets for the event are $10 per person. To register on the Internet, go to www.swbts.edu/conferences and click on the “2006 Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon” link. To register by telephone, call toll-free 1-877-GO SWBTS (467-9287). Visa and MasterCard are accepted. For further information, contact Becky Campbell, coordinator of the women’s auxiliary at Southwestern Seminary, at (817) 923-1921, ext. 7236, or e-mail her at RLCampbell@swbts.edu. Union University wins … [Read more...]