A host of Christian leaders have called on President George Bush to expand his administration’s emphasis on “overcoming hunger and poverty” – both in American and worldwide. A host of Christian leaders have called on President George Bush to expand his administration’s emphasis on “overcoming hunger and poverty” – both in American and worldwide. “A dramatic reduction in poverty, both here and abroad, would honor our Lord who called us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” the leaders said in a January 17 letter to the president. “It would also be a wonderful legacy for you to leave with the American people and indeed the world. “Such an outcome is clearly within the reach of the richest nation in history,” the various leaders continued. “The moral values you share with us demand no less.” Signers of the letter included Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Leaders of groups such as Bread for the World, World Relief, Evangelicals for Social Action, The Salvation Army and the Assemblies of God also joined in signing the letter. Several Baptist college presidents signed as well. The letter came just prior to release of Bush’s proposed budget for 2006. … [Read more...]

The four previous encounters between the Hindu man and the young Sri Lankan pastor had been violent. The four previous encounters between the Hindu man and the young Sri Lankan pastor had been violent. Each of those four times, Balram (not his real name) led a mob attacking Vijyaraj, the young pastor. And each time, Vijyaraj was tied up by the mob and severely beaten while his church was set ablaze. However, each time, the congregation of Heavenly Mission Harvest Church in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, rebuilt, and Vijyaraj kept preaching about Jesus. But despite that history, when the men met for a fifth time – in the horrific aftermath of Sri Lanka’s tsunami in late December – Vijyaraj lived out a sermon on Christian forgiveness. In four years since becoming the first Christian convert in his rural fishing village of 300 people – and despite the fierce and ongoing persecution of the militant Hindus – Vijyaraj has led his church to grow to include 27 families. All of the families were worshiping on the morning of Dec. 26 when the tsunami swept onto the coast of Sri Lanka. While many church members lost homes and fishing boats, not a single Christian from the village drowned, though as many as 10 of … [Read more...]

When Jess Franks was named as a clown for the National Finals Rodeo, he thought he had reached the apex of rodeo success. When Jess Franks was named as a clown for the National Finals Rodeo, he thought he had reached the apex of rodeo success. Thousands of fans had watched him perform across the nation, and one of his acts became so popular that it was recognized in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. However, Franks says he eventually discovered that professional achievements did not translate into lasting contentment. After more than four decades of rodeo success, Franks says he found true contentment for the first time by committing his life to Jesus Christ. Today, Franks is a member at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield, N.M. But at the beginning of his rodeo career, church was the last place Franks expected to find himself. “I was raised on a ranch, and I rodeoed for a living all my life,” he says. “So, my lifestyle was drinking, dancing, fighting, carousing, just whatever I wanted to do. I had a conscience, and it bothered me but not to the extent that it slowed me down. ... “There were no holds barred for me – nothing. I tried to be nice to people, and I tried to get along with people … [Read more...]

Expensive things are real burdens – most especially if one is not accustomed to dealing with expensive things. Expensive things are real burdens – most especially if one is not accustomed to dealing with expensive things. Ten or 15 years ago, my only brother, Paul, for no particular reason, gave me a solid gold fountain pen. It arrived in a beautiful box and certainly cost more than any other fountain pen I ever have owned. Inside the box also was a return certificate that entitled me to send the pen – along with my signature on the certificate – back to the company to have the signature engraved onto the pen. Knowing how rich people are treated was nice. Every other time I had put my name on something, it had cost me money, but this time, they were going to do something “nice and lasting” with my signature. That never had happened with a Bic pen. For years, I only used the pen for special occasions, like signing marriage certificates at weddings. I have no idea how much a solid gold pen costs, but however much it may be, it was more than I wanted to lose. So, the pen spent most of the time in my cufflinks box. Being notorious at losing things, I simply did not want to add the pen to the long … [Read more...]

Joe Aguillard was elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville – effective immediately – during a called meeting of school trustees on January 17. Since that time, he has dialogued with various college groups – students, faculty, staff and outside supporters. Joe Aguillard was elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville – effective immediately – during a called meeting of school trustees on January 17. Since that time, he has dialogued with various college groups – students, faculty, staff and outside supporters. As part of that process, he agreed to a question-and-answer session with the Louisiana Baptist Message.     It appears in full below. Aguillard, 48, is no stranger to Louisiana College. A 1977 alumnus, he joined the faculty in 2000 as chair of the LC Division of Education. Still, last year, as his name emerged as a presidential possibility, opposition was evident. Faculty members voted to oppose his election, and members of the college community lined up on either side of the issue. Trustees eventually voted 17-13 to elect Aguillard. Aguillard assumes office as the Louisiana Baptist school enters a year of academic probation. Last fall, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools … [Read more...]

Week of February 21, 2005 New Orleans witness After an all-night prayer vigil and morning chapel message, Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students and faculty recently took the gospel to the streets. Welch and about 100 members of the seminary family fanned out in early February to share the gospel in the community around seminary. Twelve people made professions of faith in Christ. During a pre-witnessing chapel service, Welch reminded persons that there is a longing among people today – but that the harvest will last only a short time. “The world is waiting for us to come with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said. “There are people out there with whom God is dealing.” Welch urged members of the seminary community to commit to training, witnessing, baptizing, giving, starting new units and participating in Vacation Bible School. Work in these six areas is essential if the Southern Baptist Convention is to reach the goal of 1 million baptisms in one year, he said. The evangelism blitz as a great success, said David Platt, an instructor of evangelism at the seminary. “Not only did 12 people place their faith in Christ, but God taught the students and … [Read more...]

It is 6:30 on a cool Thursday winter evening in northeast Louisiana. Already, 20 people are congregating in B.C. Haley’s converted potato barn, sipping coffee and munching on cookies. Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter It is 6:30 on a cool Thursday winter evening in northeast Louisiana. Already, 20 people are congregating in B.C. Haley’s converted potato barn, sipping coffee and munching on cookies. Pastor Ron Bray and a handful of others from First Baptist Church of Kilbourne greet guests as they arrive for the 7 p.m. worship service. There is singing, prayer time and preaching – cowboy style. Instead of a piano and organ, musicians utilize guitars, a keyboard and fiddles as they play on a stage behind decorative saddles which rest on bales of hay. Bray dresses in his white cowboy hat, tan vest, blue jeans and boots. The congregation sits in lawn chairs. Since last July, the church has opened the doors of Haley’s barn for the weekly gathering that is known as the Cross Trail Cowboy Church. Haley never dreamed his barn would be used for such a purpose. “We’re reaching people, and they come as they are,” Haley explains. “We’re not just playing around – we’re trying to win souls.” Attendance … [Read more...]

Plateaus are part of every journey, and these become especially obvious if the journey is represented by a graph. Businesses experience plateaus; individuals experience plateaus; churches experience plateaus; denominations experience plateaus. And sometimes, the journey experiences not just a plateau but a dip or, occasionally, a downward spiral. Plateaus are part of every journey, and these become especially obvious if the journey is represented by a graph. Businesses experience plateaus; individuals experience plateaus; churches experience plateaus; denominations experience plateaus. And sometimes, the journey experiences not just a plateau but a dip or, occasionally, a downward spiral. Baptists dislike plateaus and dips and downward spirals in their graphs because they reflect fewer people following Christ and fewer people accepting Christ as their personal savior and/or fewer dollars supporting what we believe is kingdom work. So, what should we do when we experience plateaus and dips? We can sit back and believe such trends are inevitable. We can look at the graphs of other churches, individuals or denominations and take solace in their plateaus or dips. Or – we can dream again. Jeanne Tessier … [Read more...]

Persons from across Central Louisiana and elsewhere in the state gathered at Louisiana College recently to pray for the future of the school. Persons from across Central Louisiana and elsewhere in the state gathered at Louisiana College recently to pray for the future of the school. More than 300 persons gathered at the Louisiana Baptist school in Pineville on Feb. 19 to participate in a campus prayerwalk designed to signal a new day of spirituality fir the college. “God promised us in 2 Chronicles 20 when we declare, ‘Our eyes are upon thee,’ his reply is, ‘Be not afraid, the battle is not yours but God’s. Stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord, ...’” new LC President Joe Aguillard said in announcing plans for the event earlier this year. “God’s promises are real and true, and he will bless our obedience,” Aguillard added. “This call to prayer is a total acknowledgment that God is in charge of Louisiana College, and our allegiance to him will bring his blessings upon us.” Aguillard addressed the gathered participants at the start of the prayerwalk. Persons then were led in small groups to various campus sites for times of prayer. Following those directed sessions, participants reconvened … [Read more...]

Missions is not just about overseas efforts – it also is an unfinished task at home, in this country, in this state, in every neighborhood. Missions is not just about overseas efforts – it also is an unfinished task at home, in this country, in this state, in every neighborhood. The Southern Baptist Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering – set for March 6-13 this year – is a reminder of that fact. Each year, Southern Baptists take time to focus on the North American missions task and to pray for the resources – and workers – needed to meet the needs. The Annie Armstrong offering supplies much of the financial needs, with 100 percent of its gifts being used for missions support. Last year, Southern Baptists gave almost $54 million through the offering. The goal for the offering this year is $55 million. However, the offering does not supply all the needs – as the theme for this year’s missions focus asserts. Indeed, the responsibility to answer the gospel call  falls on each Southern Baptist – whether that call is to pray, give or go out in service of the gospel – perhaps elsewhere in the nation or throughout the state  or around the corner  or even across the … [Read more...]