LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Baptists have an opportunity to be a part of the greatest spiritual transformation of a major city in United States history, said Dennis Watson, pastor of Celebration Church in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Baptists have an opportunity to be a part of the greatest spiritual transformation of a major city in United States history, said Dennis Watson, pastor of Celebration Church in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie. “I’ve been in Louisiana since 1981 and I really believe we can see our Judea turned around as never before,” Watson told participants during last week’s Louisiana Baptist Convention Evangelism Conference in Lafayette. Since he began Celebration Church in September 1989, the congregation has planted seven churches in Southeast Louisiana, five more across the nation and  more than 25 worldwide while ministering to persons in prisons, homeless shelters and New Orleans’ inner city. “It’s been a great privilege,” Watson said. “And always our greatest challenge was the city of New Orleans. “It’s always been a great, great challenge,” he continued. “In fact, I’ve complained to the Lord numerous times, ‘Why in … [Read more...]

HERNANDO, Miss. (BP) – At the outset, Longview Point Baptist Church opted to give 8 percent of undesignated offerings to the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ global missions effort, and 2 percent to the Northwest (Miss.) Baptist Association for local missions needs. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor HERNANDO, Miss. (BP) – At the outset, Longview Point Baptist Church opted to give 8 percent of undesignated offerings to the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists’ global missions effort, and 2 percent to the Northwest (Miss.) Baptist Association for local missions needs. And in their second year, they bumped CP Missions up to 10 percent, plus 3 percent to the association. “We thought it was important for our church to build it into our DNA to give to missions,” said Wade Humphries, pastor of the four-year-old church in Hernando, Miss., just south of Memphis, Tenn. “Whatever financial resources came in, we felt it was important to be faithful to invest in missions,” Humphries said. “When we give to the Cooperative Program we are investing in the Kingdom of God and in eternity, because God uses our resources to see people saved. What better investment is there than that?” The pastor … [Read more...]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) – Living with acclaim and accolades could easily overwhelm an 18-year-old recruited by the nation’s top college football teams. His decision to commit to the University of Florida recently pre-empted local television news programming and created a media frenzy throughout the nation. By Barbara Denman Florida Baptist Convention JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) – Living with acclaim and accolades could easily overwhelm an 18-year-old recruited by the nation’s top college football teams. His decision to commit to the University of Florida recently pre-empted local television news programming and created a media frenzy throughout the nation. But when Tim Tebow was asked to recount the record-setting statistics of his high school career, the Florida High School Player of the Year said he could not. “I’m sure someone kept the stats, but I haven’t kept track,” Tebow, a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said. Nor does he surf the Internet, where dozens of stories and scouting reports have been written about the talented young athlete. Instead the dual-threat quarterback for St. Augustine’s Nease High School has been taught that honoring God is more important … [Read more...]

CENTREVILLE, Ala. (BP) – Five churches, including four Southern Baptist ones, were destroyed or damaged in an Alabama county apparently by arson Feb. 2 and 3, and a fire at a sixth church in a neighboring county is being investigated. By Michael Foust Baptist Press Assistant Editor CENTREVILLE, Ala. (BP) – Five churches, including four Southern Baptist ones, were destroyed or damaged in an Alabama county apparently by arson Feb. 2 and 3, and a fire at a sixth church in a neighboring county is being investigated. Rehobeth Baptist Church in Randolph, Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield and Pleasant Sabine in Centreville were burned to the ground, while Antioch Baptist Church in Centreville and Old Union Baptist near Randolph were damaged. All but Pleasant Sabine are Southern Baptist, and all five are located in Bibb County. “The sheriff’s department and the ABI [Alabama Bureau of Investigation] is treating it as arson, and obviously they’ve got some clues as to that,” Steve Patrick, director of missions for the Bibb County Baptist Association, told Baptist Press. The FBI joined the investigation on Feb. 3. Investigators are looking closely at how the fires were started in the two churches that … [Read more...]

Week of February 6, 2006 SBC messenger registration opens ... NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Online registration for the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., opened Feb. 1. Churches will be able to register their messengers online at the SBC website, www.sbc.net, to avoid waiting at the counter upon arrival at the convention while a registration volunteer types in various lines of information. Online registration ends at midnight June 10 – after which registration must be done at the registration desk beginning at 4 p.m. June 11. Names can be added, edited and deleted up to June 10 as well. Each messenger must present the printed form that shows the messenger’s reference number – given on the website – at the registration booth in order to receive a nametag and set of ballots. Technically, a person is not a messenger until the messenger reference number is presented at the registration booth. But, unlike the traditional method, the person is pre-registered before he or she arrives to the convention. The traditional registration method also will be available for those churches unable to use Internet access. GuideStone releases Ministers’ Tax Guide ... DALLAS (BP) … [Read more...]

Week of February 6, 2006 Potpourri SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road church: Rhyme & Reason in concert; love offering accepted; Feb. 18, 6 p.m.; Trey Lewis, pastor. WASHINGTON – Washington church: Fred Luter, guest speaker; Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. with supper at 5:30 p.m.; Louis Charrier, pastor. LAFAYETTE – First church: “Forever” seminar; Feb. 17, 6-10 p.m.; for couples who are anticipating marriage in the near future or recently married; free; call (337) 233-1774 ext. 3039 to pre-register; Rod Dubois, minister to single adults; Steve Horn, pastor. RUSTON – Calvary church: “Last Chance” drama; Feb. 12-14, 7 p.m. nightly; free admission, nursery and children’s ministry provided; David Hastings, pastor. PINEVILLE – Louisiana College: Louisiana Baptist Convention drama festival; Feb. 24, 6 p.m. – Feb. 25, 4 p.m.; Wesley Brainard and Mad Dogs and Englishmen, featured guests; conference seminars will include acting, ballooning, magic, puppets, mime and video production; $45 per person by Feb. 10; $50 after Feb. 10; $55 at the door; for more information, call (800) 622-6549 or visit www.lbc.org/drama; Joe Aguillard, president. WOODWORTH – Tall Timbers Conference Center: Missions Rendezvous/State Acteens … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation’s stocks outperformed the S&P 500 in each of the six time periods measured by its Smith Barney consulting group, trustees were told Jan. 26 at their quarterly meeting. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation’s stocks outperformed the S&P 500 in each of the six time periods measured by its Smith Barney consulting group, trustees were told Jan. 26 at their quarterly meeting. A careful look at the portfolio, explained in detail by Lee Morris of Smith Barney, showed LBF stocks have returned 3.25 percent more than the S&P 500 annually for the last three years – 2003, ‘04 and ‘05. “In late 2001, representatives from several Louisiana Baptist agencies selected the Smith Barney Consulting Group to help the LBF hire and monitor equity managers for LBF investments,” said Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Foundation. “Several other state Baptist foundations and the International Mission Board use Smith Barney. A look at the last three-year performance charts proves the selection was right.” The assets managed by the LBF have grown by more than $37 million in the 10 years Taylor has been executive … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE - Community Bible Baptist Church is starting its fourth mission congregation, but that’s not all. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor BATON ROUGE - Community Bible Baptist Church is starting its fourth mission congregation, but that’s not all. The predominantly African-American church has a variety of other local outreach ministries at the same time it works hard to meet the spiritual needs of its members. “I try to get as many laypeople as possible involved,” said Lee T. Wesley, founding pastor of the church that organized in 1988. “I’m not called as a pastor to do the ministry; I’m called to equip the laity.” Because of its involved members and their zeal for starting new congregations, Community Baptist Bible is able to meet the needs of people in the greater Baton Rouge area, the pastor said. Church member Arlene Williams credits the pastor for teaching the congregation how to love people and missions. “Our pastor has a heart for people, a heart for missions. He just has a love for people,” Williams said. “Pastor Wesley has led us to do tent revivals and ministries at the apartment houses near the church. That’s one of the things I like most about our church, how we reach … [Read more...]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s an 11-hour drive from Birmingham to Houston, but Pastor Fred Luter makes a round trip uncomplainingly twice a month. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s an 11-hour drive from Birmingham to Houston, but Pastor Fred Luter makes a round trip uncomplainingly twice a month. That’s where part of his Franklin Avenue Baptist Church congregation is. Another group is in Baton Rouge (five hours from Birmingham) and some have stayed near the devastated Franklin Avenue Church in New Orleans, (six hours from Birmingham). Luter preaches in all three cities at least twice each month. “We’re one church in three cities,” Luter said in a cell phone interview, with a wry grin in his voice. He was driving to his temporary home in Birmingham from a midweek meeting with pastors in New Orleans. “So many people are still displaced.” With these words, Luter’s voice changed to one filled with concern and caring. “I miss the people so much. It’s been real tough on me as a pastor.” Franklin Avenue Baptist held its breath under eight feet of water in the wake of Katrina’s wrath, but it’s beginning to breathe again as members find each other. On Jan. 1 Luter began … [Read more...]

MANSFIELD – The day started like any other that Oct. 23 in 1990. Gary Hobbs was working his usual Tuesday night shift of 3 to 11 p.m. for the Mansfield police department. By Brian Blackwell Staff writer MANSFIELD – The day started like any other that Oct. 23 in 1990. Gary Hobbs was working his usual Tuesday night shift of 3 to 11 p.m. for the Mansfield police department. At 9:20 p.m., Hobbs was accompanying a parole officer to issue a probation warrant for the arrest of Todd Bass. However, Bass resisted the arrest and fatally wounded the parole officer. Bass then fired six shots at Hobbs. Hobbs retaliated, delivering nine rounds. He suffered only a minor wound to his wrist and missed a week of work. The felon was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Fourteen years later, Hobbs said he reached a point in his life of personal misery and emptiness. He then visited Southside Baptist Church in Mansfield on June 16, 2004. It was the first time Hobbs had darkened the doors of a church building. Four days later, during the Sunday morning service, Hobbs accepted Christ as his personal Savior. “Everything changed from that point,” he said. “It’s amazing how you can walk into a … [Read more...]