Many speak on the influence, or lack thereof, of evangelical Christianity in the United States today, but few have spoken with more insight than David P. Gushee, the Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University, a Tennessee Baptist university. Many speak on the influence, or lack thereof, of evangelical Christianity in the United States today, but few have spoken with more insight than David P. Gushee, the Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University, a Tennessee Baptist university. His piece published by the Religion News Service printed below should be required reading for people concerned about the moral and ethical tone and direction of our nation. Even for those who might not agree with Professor Gushee, his piece will stimulate careful thinking.   Some readers will be angered because Professor Gushee claims that some of the most hotly debated issues of Christian influence in the United States the last few years are "symbols" of deeper issues. Professor Gushee implies that we can spend our energies fighting battles over displaying symbols rather than focusing the majority of our energies on the greater battles beneath the symbols.   Symbols are important. Symbols … [Read more...]

It has been the most horrific year of their lives - a year of public grief following the deaths of their husbands when the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry on Feb. 1,2003. It has been the most horrific year of their lives - a year of public grief following the deaths of their husbands when the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry on Feb. 1,2003.   But they have not been without hope.   Instead, the loss of the shuttle Columbia just 16 minutes from touchdown has given Evelyn Husband and Sandy Anderson a global platform for spreading the message of hope and peace found in the gospel.   It is not a platform they stepped upon voluntarily. But both say they are determined to honor the memories of their husbands and set an example for their children by proclaiming the faith in Jesus Christ their husbands shared.   During a recent tribute to the lives and testimonies of Columbia Shuttle Commander Rick Husband and Payload Commander Mike Anderson, the wives of the two astronauts testified of God’s provision during the past year. Grace Community Church in Houston hosted the memorial concert for its two lost church members.   "It has been such … [Read more...]

Witnessing to the lost this Mardi Gras just may be as easy as saying "cheese." Louisiana Baptist Convention leaders are scheduled to bring JoePix photo evangelism ministry to New Orleans on Feb. 21-24 and are looking for 270 individuals to take part in the effort. Witnessing to the lost this Mardi Gras just may be as easy as saying "cheese."   Louisiana Baptist Convention leaders are scheduled to bring JoePix photo evangelism ministry to New Orleans on Feb. 21-24 and are looking for 270 individuals to take part in the effort.   Operated by BlueSky Ministries, JoePix teams take photographs of people at major events, such as Mardi Gras, offering free pictures that can be retrieved at www.joepix.com. While visiting the Web site, those who are photographed have a chance to learn about Jesus Christ.   The campaign is simple, says Davies Owens, executive director of JoePix and consultant with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.   After undergoing a two-hour training session, teams of two - a male and a female - approach individuals or groups at major events such as Mardi Gras and ask if they want a free photograph taken.   The team then issues the … [Read more...]

Change on the horizon: Louisiana Baptist leaders eye a change in convention structure as local associations prepare to assume full responsibility for directors of missions Change on the horizon: Louisiana Baptist leaders eye a change in convention structure as local associations prepare to assume full responsibility for directors of missions   A Louisiana Baptist committee has offered suggestions to help local associations in the state take full administrative and financial responsibility for their directors of missions at the first of 2005.   The suggestions are designed to assist associations through a time of transition "in a timely manner with as little hardship as possible on all parties concerned."   They were released January 23, just days after the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board endorsed the decision for directors of missions to return completely to associational control. At that time, the board also approved a committee to work out a transition plan for the process. The shift of control will mean the end of a structure that had been followed for some 40 years in which directors of missions were employed by the state convention.   The move requires … [Read more...]

Some are calling it the greatest witnessing opportunity in 2,000 years - while others are saying it represents a chance to jump-start a national spiritual revival. Some are calling it the greatest witnessing opportunity in 2,000 years - while others are saying it represents a chance to jump-start a national spiritual revival.   For Louisiana Baptist Convention Evangelism Director Wayne Jenkins, it simply is a "God thing" that absolutely begs for local churches to get involved.   "It" is the new Mel Gibson film - "The Passion of the Christ." The film already has generated considerable buzz and controversy. Jews especially have complained that it will blame them for the death of Christ.   Christians who have previewed the film deny that - and report an unprecedented portrayal of the last hours in the life of Jesus.   Southern Baptist leaders who have previewed the film all have spoken of its scriptural integrity and its outright power.   Now, as the film prepares to open Feb. 25, Jenkins said he wants churches to focus on its unbelievable possibilities.   "This is not something we came up with," he said of the film. "We didn’t have the $24 million or so … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 5, 2004 Potpourri   • DENHAM SPRINGS - Eden church: Mark Trammell Trio in concert; Feb. 8, 6 p.m.; Wayne Talley, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Jefferson church: Jeff Burnham in concert; Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m.; T. C. French Jr., pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Stevendale church: The Perrys in concert; Feb. 14, 7 p.m.; Michael J. LoBrutto, pastor.   • ARCADIA - First church: Wild Game Banquet; Feb. 7, 6 p.m.; Lynn Clayton, guest speaker; $5 per ticket; call (318) 263-8474; Jeff Hoffman, guest speaker.   • ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: Brendan McKinney in concert; Feb. 8, 6 p.m.; David Brooks, pastor.   Revivals   • RAYVILLE - Eastside church: Feb. 9-13, 7 p.m.; Brad Webb, evangelist; Mark Goodman, minister of music; Kyle Coates, pastor.   • JONESVILLE - Lismore church: Feb. 15, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Feb. 16-18, 7 p.m.; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Ken Gilmore, pastor.   • MONTEREY - First church: Feb. 15, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Feb. 16-18, 7 p.m.; Scotty McDowell, guest speaker; Richard Enterkin, pastor.   Anniversaries   • SHREVEPORT - Woodridge church: Mr. and Mrs. Tom Seeger celebrated 60 years of … [Read more...]

Barely half of the nation’s senior pastors - but a leading 71 percent of Southern Baptist pastors - hold to a biblical worldview, a new study by Christian researcher George Barna shows. Barely half of the nation’s senior pastors - but a leading 71 percent of Southern Baptist pastors - hold to a biblical worldview, a new study by Christian researcher George Barna shows.   The poll of 601 senior pastors representing some 50 denominations shows that only 51 percent of the nation’s pastors held to a biblical worldview. The survey included pastors from conservative, moderate and liberal backgrounds.   While Southern Baptists had the highest percentage, United Methodist pastors had the lowest (27 percent).   In fact, only 28 percent of pastors from mainline denominations held to a biblical worldview. Mainline churches include the American Baptist Churches USA, United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church.   "Worldview" describes the belief system by which a person understands or makes decisions about the world.   For the Barna poll, those holding to such a view had to … [Read more...]

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a challenge for young adult Christians - whatever one does and wherever one is, do not be a thermostat. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a challenge for young adult Christians - whatever one does and wherever one is, do not be a thermostat.   "A lot of people - particularly in politics - are nothing more than thermometers," Huckabee told young adults gathered for a recent Southern Baptist conference in Dallas.   These "thermometers" take an opinion poll to get the "pulse of the public" and, based on the poll, state the position they are going to take, explained Huckabee, who is a former president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention.   However, God calls people to be like thermostats, moving the temperature to what it should to be, Huckabee explained during the recent Elevate 2004 conference, which is designed to help young adult professional take their Christian faith into the world.   He offered two suggestions for young people seeking to change the climate of the culture.   First, a Christian should stand by their convictions no matter the consequences, Huckabee said. He added that these convictions should be based on the Word … [Read more...]

For the published week of February 12, 2004 LBC finances   Louisiana Baptists got 2004 off to a very strong start as far as convention receipts are concerned. January receipts for all but one area of giving were up significantly from the previous year.   • Cooperative Program receipts totaled $2,105,388, an increase of $146,304 (7.5 percent) from January 2003. The total launches the 2004 budget well, exceeding monthly needs by $272,055 (14.8 percent). The receipts also send a good signal to the convention, which begins 2004 with a reduced budget as a result of a dip in giving the previous two years.   • Receipts for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions totaled $1.7 million last month, an increase of $330,383 (23.7 percent) from the previous January. The Lottie Moon offering is the only avenue of giving not on a calendar year - its runs from June 1 to May 31. Thus, eight months into the offering year, state Lottie Moon receipts stand at $2.8 million, an increase of $443,870 (18.8 percent) from the same time last year.   • Receipts for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions totaled $103,931 last month, an increase of almost … [Read more...]

While just about everyone in America seems to be talking about marriage and the family being in trouble, every legislature in the country seems to be passing laws that weaken the very premise of marriage and therefore the family, and make getting out of marriage easier. While just about everyone in America seems to be talking about marriage and the family being in trouble, every legislature in the country seems to be passing laws that weaken the very premise of marriage and therefore the family, and make getting out of marriage easier.   Even Louisiana, with its covenant marriage possibility, just passed a law that does away with a waiting period for the three-day waiting period between getting a license and being married in the French Quarter so it can compete with the wedding chapels of Las Vegas. We may be slow to catch up to other states and cities in areas that matter most, but we seem to have no problem staying up in the less desirable areas.   To be certain, in matters of the ultimate human interpersonal relationships or marriages and families, laws cannot determine their quality. No law can make a man be faithful to his wife or his wife faithful to him, nor is there a law that can … [Read more...]