As the new Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director, David Hankins outlined an unquestionably focused and defined goal for the state denomination last week – to light a gospel fire in participating churches all throughout the state. As the new Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director, David Hankins outlined an unquestionably focused and defined goal for the state denomination lasy week – to light a gospel fire in participating churches all throughout  the state. “Our vision is to ignite a passion for Jesus among Louisiana Baptists that will result in dynamic, growing congregations who covenant together to extend the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth,” noted Hankins, who became executive director of the state convention earlier this year. Hankins outlined the core values, mission statement and vision that will direct his tenure as state leader during last week’s LBC Executive Board meeting. His report was a key feature of the session, which also included action on several issues. In the report, Hankins told board members that he had been following the biblical leadership model of Nehemiah, who acted as an administrator to sense God’s vision and enable it. Like Nehemiah, Hankins said he … [Read more...]

Week of May 9, 2005 SBC nominees Three persons with Louisiana ties have been nominated to positions of service on Southern Baptist boards or committees. The nominees still must be elected by messengers to the 2005 Southern Baptist Convention in June. The Louisianians nominated include: • Randy Harper. Harper is nominated to a first term of service on the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary board, He is senior pastor at Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City. • Richard Landry. Landry is nominated to a first term of service on the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. He is a member at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles. • Patrick Williams. Williams is nominated to a first term of service on the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary board. He is a member at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. SBC appointments A pair of Louisiana Baptists have been named to the Southern Baptist Committee on Committee. Two persons from each state convention are named to the committee each year by the Southern Baptist Convention president. That committee then is responsible for nominating persons to serve on the SBC Committee on Nominations. The Louisianians serving on the 2005 Committee on Committees are … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists handled several key matters of denominational business during their scheduled meeting last week. Louisiana Baptists handled several key matters of denominational business during their scheduled meeting last week. During the regularly-scheduled meeting, board members: • Approved a plan to transfer and use funds from the sale of the Baptist Retirement Center. • Approved a fund-raising campaign by Louisiana College among churches. • Approved a resolution designed to aid Louisiana College in responding to accreditation concerns. • Declined to act on a proposed constitutional amendment that would have empowered local associations to elect half of Executive Board members. • Approved the election of persons to fill vacancies on convention boards and committees. Action related to the Baptist Retirement Center moves the state convention closer to resolution of a lingering issue. The matter dates back to 2003, when financial concerns led convention messengers to vote to sell the Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia. Assets from sale of the Louisiana Baptist facility – estimated to be $2 million to $2.5 million – were to be invested in the Louisiana Baptist Foundation. Center trustees and … [Read more...]

Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled a little more than $17 million last month, a decrease of $473,547 (2.7 percent) from the previous April. Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled a little more than $17 million last month, a decrease of $473,547 (2.7 percent) from the previous April. Seven months into the Southern Baptist Convention’s fiscal year, overall gifts total more than $115.6 million, an increase of more than $2.6 million (2.4 percent) from the same time last year. That total also stands $8.8 million (8.2 percent) ahead of budget. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled more than $14.7 million last month, an increase of $1.3 million (9.9 percent) from the previous April. For the year, overall designated gifts total $131.3 million, a drop of $230,318 (0.2 percent) from the same time last year. … [Read more...]

One of the warnings citizens opposed to bringing gambling into Louisiana issued as that decision was being made was that the state would become addicted to its tax revenue, regardless of the other costs. One of the warnings citizens opposed to bringing gambling into Louisiana issued as that decision was being made was that the state would become addicted to its tax revenue, regardless of the other less obvious costs gambling would inflict upon the state and its citizens. The last years have demonstrated the solid reality of that danger. Every time the state legislature meets, it turns to taxing gambling for additional revenue. That might sound good to most folks – after all, taxing gambling cannot be all that bad. Those who do not like the presence of gambling in the state say, “Tax them, not us.” But here is the problem with turning increasingly to gambling for state revenues. The state is becoming so dependent upon the revenues from gambling that many legislators work with the gambling industry to increase gambling in order to increase state revenues. Remember the Harrah’s fiasco several years ago? The land-based casino in New Orleans could not make it on its own, much less deliver the tremendous … [Read more...]

Watering the lawn in a subdivision presents frustrating challenges. One wants to water every blade of his grass without watering the neighbors’ yards. Watering the lawn in a subdivision presents frustrating challenges. One wants to water every blade of his grass without watering the neighbors’ yards. My neighbors pamper their lawns like every blade of grass is a prized orchid. They fertilize during precisely determined weeks. They aerate at carefully timed intervals. They murder any insect that dares threaten the turf. They water until the lawn is wet to a specified depth. I do not want to cause an intrusion of undesired water. Besides, my water bill is high enough with just watering my lawn. And I do not want to water my driveway and sidewalks while watering my lawn. I am not tightfisted with my money, but I go into panic if I see water running uselessly down the driveway and sidewalks into the street. To accomplish watering a lawn with these restrictions requires carefully setting the water sprinkler. After years of being cheap, and with significant experimentation, I have determined the best sprinkler is one with the long oscillating bar. It does the best job of distributing water in the shape of … [Read more...]

It is a Tuesday afternoon at the prayer room inside the Louisiana Capitol in Baton Rouge. It is a Tuesday afternoon at the prayer room inside the Louisiana Capitol in Baton Rouge. Ten prayer intercessors form a circle and individually ask God to grant the state’s elected representatives and senators wisdom as they vote on bills and serve on committees during the 2005 Louisiana legislative session, which began April 25. Since 2000, participants in Intercessors for Louisiana have met weekly in the Capitol prayer room. This ministry – which includes Christians from various denominations, including Louisiana Baptists – intercedes for Louisiana’s government through a network of prayer warriors throughout the state. Based in Denham Springs, Intercessors for Louisiana has a six-member board, which includes a state Senate and House of Representatives sponsor. “We need to cover our elected officials in prayer,” Intercessors for Louisiana Director Carolyn Hatcher explains. “The business they do is for all of us and will impact each generation to come because they make laws that will stand. They all need our prayers in order to hear God’s voice.” One of the ministry’s goals is to identify intercessors who … [Read more...]

Rather than using workers to “baby-sit” children while adults hold their worship services, successful children’s ministries involve parents, Art Murphy said recently. Rather than using workers to “baby-sit” children while adults hold their worship services, successful children’s ministries involve parents, Art Murphy said recently. Such ministries focus on equipping persons to be Christian parents and role models throughout the week, said Murphy, author of “The Faith of a Child.” Parental involvement was one of 10 components that Murphy said make up a strong children’s ministry. Others are: • Bible truth. Children’s ministries must teach and reinforce biblical truths, through such exercises as scripture memorization, Murphy said. • Bible application. Children’s workers also should be teaching what Bible truth means in age-appropriate ways. • Shepherding. Murphy urged persons to observe children so they can learn best how to care for them. • Safety. This is the most important topic for visiting families, Murphy noted. Children’s ministries should be concerned about emotional safety as well as physical safety, including such issues as bullies, teasing, nicknames and labels. • Trained and adequate … [Read more...]

In a region of Indonesia devastated by last December’s tsunami, Kenneth Magnuson says he saw some places completely decimated, “where every home was wiped off the face of the earth – except for an occasional wall or two that was left standing. In a region of Indonesia devastated by last December’s tsunami, Kenneth Magnuson says he saw some places completely decimated, “where every home was wiped off the face of the earth – except for an occasional wall or two that was left standing. “We were told it was like that for something like 200 miles down the coast,” says Magnuson, associate professor of Christian ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and member of a relief team that recently visited one of the areas hardest hit by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck southern Asia Dec. 26. “Thousands of wells were filled with salt water,” Magnuson reports of the scene. “Rice fields were completely destroyed. We drove by a mass grave where 47,000 people were buried in a field the size of a football field.” The group of seminary volunteers undertook a variety of service projects, including teaching English, surveying disaster sites, talking with local residents and restoring wells to a … [Read more...]

Week of May 16 Leadership conference The Louisiana Baptist Associational Leadership Planning Conference has been set for May 24 at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. The one-day session is designed for all associational leaders. It is set to begin at 9:15 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. The schedule includes a general session that offers a church planning guide overview and information on Empowering Kingdom Growth, the Southern Baptist emphasis on leading persons to focus live for the kingdom of God. Small-group training sessions are planned for all areas of associational leadership. The theme of this year’s conference is “Louisiana Churches on Mission.” For details, visit www.lbc.org or call (800) 622-6549 or (318) 448-3402. Teen plastic surgery With the growing popularity of reality-based television shows such as “Extreme Makeover” and “The Swan,” as well as other pressures to achieve an ideal look, more teenage girls are choosing to undergo cosmetic surgery, recent news reports indicate. Doctors are performing an increasing number of procedures such as breast implants, liposuction and tummy tucks on girls as young as 14, a Washington Post report noted. Parents now are giving breast implants and liposuction … [Read more...]