Returning to his Acadian roots in Canada always has been a dream of Louis Charrier. Returning to his Acadian roots in Canada always has been a dream of Louis Charrier.   Because of Charrier’s love for his heritage, the pastor of three Louisiana Baptist mission churches travels the state to give presentations on Cajun history.   Thus, when an opportunity arose last winter to attend the World Acadian Congress in Nova Scotia earlier this fall, Charrier jumped at the chance.   Charrier and 16 other Louisiana Baptists joined an estimated 225,000 people from throughout the world who gathered for two weeks of family reunions and seminars that dealt with their Acadian heritage.   Their ancestors began moving from Nova Scotia in 1755, when Great Britain acquired control of the area. When the Acadians did not become cooperative British subjects, the British began removing them from the Canadian province.   Known as the Great Derangement, the Acadians settled in various other countries, including the United States. By the 19th century, nearly 4,000 Acadians had moved to south Louisiana.   And while the Louisiana Baptists who traveled back to Nova Scotia soaked … [Read more...]

U.S. News & World Report magazine has listed 45 colleges and universities of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools among the nation’s best educational institutions. U.S. News & World Report magazine has listed 45 colleges and universities of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools among the nation’s best educational institutions.   Those cited include Louisiana College in Pineville.   The magazine analyzed information on more than 1,400 U.S. schools before publishing their annual rankings.   In this year’s report, colleges and universities were ranked in four categories - Best National Universities; Best Liberal Arts Colleges; Best Universities - Master’s; and Best Comprehensive Colleges - Bachelor’s. The schools were divided into four tiers.   Twenty-three members of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools were ranked in the top two tiers, 16 were ranked in the third tier in their respective categories and six were ranked in the fourth tier.   Several schools moved up in the rankings.   The magazine’s 2005 edition also included a listing of schools in four other categories. They ranked … [Read more...]

Chuck Kelley has an answer for those who question the need to bother with the Southern Baptist Convention. Chuck Kelley has an answer for those who question the need to bother with the Southern Baptist Convention.   In fact, he has four.   The emerging generation of young leaders especially are questioning the relevance of the convention, said Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some are being driven away from the convention by the number of plateaued and declining Southern Baptist churches.   Others are focusing on Baptist battles.   "They want to be a part of something positive, not embroiled in a constant controversy," Kelley explained.   Controversy derails, distracts and disrupts, Kelley acknowledged. It may plunge a business into bankruptcy, cost a politician an election or wreck a denomination.   But while Southern Baptists have had their share of controversies through the years, Kelley said he still sees remarkable signs of life in the denomination.   "For the first time in my ministry, I am going to explain publicly why I made the adult commitment to be a Southern Baptist," Kelley said during a chapel … [Read more...]

Faith and morality played major roles as American voters re-elected President George Bush, expanded the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress and approved amendments to protect marriage in 11 states Faith and morality played major roles as American voters re-elected President George Bush, expanded the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress and approved amendments to protect marriage in 11 states.   Nationwide exit polling by the National Election Pool indicated 22 percent of voters cited "moral values" as the most important issue in their decision on the presidential race. Of those, 79 percent chose Bush, 18 percent selected Democratic candidate John Kerry and 2 percent opted for independent candidate Ralph Nader. The morality issue was the top issue, surpassing the economy (20 percent), terrorism (19 percent) and Iraq (15 percent).   According to that same data, 22 percent of voters were identified as white, evangelical/born-again Christians. Of those, 77 percent voted for Bush, 22 percent for Kerry and 1 percent for Nader.   "The faith factor was the difference in this election," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist North American Mission Board trustees recently approved a 34-page document to serve as a guideline for what constitutes a New Testament church. Southern Baptist North American Mission Board trustees recently approved a 34-page document to serve as a guideline for what constitutes a New Testament church.   The action is significant since the mission board starts 1,500 new Southern Baptist churches each year.   "It is important that the North American Mission Board have a very clear statement of what we see to be a Baptist church," board President Robert Reccord said.   "We are not planting ‘baptistic’ churches. We are not planting churches that resemble what Baptists are. We are planting Southern Baptist churches that reflect what a biblical New Testament church is."   Reccord said the document was needed because of the rapid proliferation of some non-biblical church models including ‘family’ or ‘simple’ church networks.   "A church cannot be myself and my wife meeting in our home, and it’s we two and no more," he said. "That is not a church. What we’re doing with this document is giving guidelines to ensure that Southern Baptists are starting … [Read more...]

Almost as difficult to answer as the question, "Where are Baptists going?" is the question, "Where did Baptists come from?" Almost as difficult to answer as the question, "Where are Baptists going?" is the question, "Where did Baptists come from?"   One of the members of our small church asked, "Where did Baptists come from, and who were they?" Having read the answer to that in college and again in seminary but needing to refresh my memory, I responded: "Good question. I will answer that next week."   Looking back over some excellent texts from my formal education days reminded me that Baptists - being Baptists even in their birth - came in unexpected and unorthodox ways. From the beginning, there were General Baptists (Armenian) and Particular Baptists (Calvinists) and some Anabaptists, with a little bit of Mennonite flavoring. There was no official beginning of a Baptist denomination; some Baptists just sort of sprang out of the soil of unrest. And early Baptist churches discovered church planting easily could be accomplished by splitting. Baptists seem to have started in England, then moved to Holland, and then, some traveled back to England and some to America. (I apologize to real … [Read more...]

For the week of November 18, 2004 Bible study cartoons   As in previous years, Joe McKeever once again has announced the availability of cartoons to accompany the upcoming Southern Baptist Winter Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark. A total of 32 cartoons is available, said McKeever, director of missions at the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. The cartoons may be accessed ay www.joemckeever.com and used free of charge by anyone teaching the study. Many teachers reproduce them on transparencies for overhead projection or scan them into computers for display on screens, McKeever noted.   Louisiana missionaries   Four Louisiana Baptist schools placed in the top 50 in the nation in terms of sending summer missionaries through the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in 2004. Actually, the school ranked in the top 13 when ties are considered among the 50 schools, Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry leader noted. Nicholls State University in Thibodaux tied for 11th place by sending out eight summer missionaries through the North American Mission Board. Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge tied for 12th by sending out seven summer workers. Louisiana State … [Read more...]

Most would say Chuck Norris has reached the pinnacle of success. A six-time world karate champion, he starred as the hero in more than 23 films and wrote and produced his popular television series, "Walker, Texas Ranger." Most would say Chuck Norris has reached the pinnacle of success. A six-time world karate champion, he starred as the hero in more than 23 films and wrote and produced his popular television series, "Walker, Texas Ranger."   However, success could not rescue the Norris family the night they faced a life-threatening crisis.   Norris says he felt absolutely helpless when his wife, Gena, went into pre-term labor with their unborn twins. But he says he also knew he could rely solely on God. He recounts the events of that frightful night in his new autobiography, "Against All Odds: My Story" with Ken Abraham, published by Broadman & Holman.   "I had earned millions of dollars over my lifetime," he says. "I’d been a friend to several presidents, yet all the money in my bank account couldn’t help me now. ... There was only one person to whom I could turn."   It was God. He had been with Norris throughout his life, and this would be no … [Read more...]

That all peoples may know him: For Southern Baptists, the challenge is clear - shine the bright light of the gospel on all the world That all peoples may know him: For Southern Baptists, the challenge is clear - shine the bright light of the gospel on all the world   Where can one find thousands of millionaires - not to mention nine of the world’s richest billionaires as well?   India.   Who makes more movies than Hollywood?   India - by far.   "Bollywood," the vast film industry based in Bombay (now Mumbai) churns out about 1,000 pictures a year, roughly twice as many as Hollywood. Hindi movies burst with melodrama, action, sexy stars and big musical production numbers - and gross $3.5 billion a year worldwide.   Which nation boasts the world’s biggest democracy?   India.   And it still works, as demonstrated by this year’s stunning upset victory by the underdog Congress Party against the ruling Hindu nationalist alliance.   Which country now counts more than 24 million Christians - nearly 19 million of whom are evangelicals?   Right again - India.   If one’s most vivid impressions of India come from … [Read more...]

Forty days this year drastically changed Chesbrough Baptist Church in Kentwood. Forty days this year drastically changed Chesbrough Baptist Church in Kentwood.   As a result of their participation in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign in April and May, the eastern Louisiana church eliminated various committees and formed 25 new ministries.   Pastor John David Stewart said that while 40 Days of Purpose was not the solution to all his church’s problems, the study helped his members think more about serving others.   Developed by Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., 40 Days of Purpose is based on "The Purpose-Driven Life," written by Warren. That book invites individuals to undertake a 40-day study to help them understand God’s meaning and purpose for their lives.   "Unbelievable ministries have formed as a result of the study," Stewart said. "The campaign got everyone focused on serving one another. Forty Days (of Purpose) got everyone in tune to focus on the same goal, and the entire church was brought closer together."   Chesbrough is one of many Louisiana Baptist churches who has participated in the 40 Days of Purpose … [Read more...]