In addition to addressing the directors of missions situation in the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members handled other items of routine business during their meeting last week. In addition to addressing the directors of missions situation in the state, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board members handled other items of routine business during their meeting last week.   During last week’s meeting, members:   • Gave final approval to a pair of charter changes designed to tie the Executive Board more tightly to the state convention and prevent it from establishing itself as a self-perpetuating body. The changes were approved by messengers to both the 2002 and 2003 conventions.   • Approved a study of the bylaws of convention agencies to ensure they are in line with convention documents regarding the nomination and election of trustees. The study came in response to a motion at the 2003 convention. The concern is that some agencies could have bylaws in place that would tie the hands of the state convention in who could be nominated as trustee. The core issue is that while the convention has guidelines for persons who may serve on state boards, individual … [Read more...]

For the published week of January 22, 2004 Potpourri   • RUSTON - Cook church: Sportsman Banquet; Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m.; David Newberry, pastor.   • WINNFIELD - First church: The King’s Messengers in concert; Jan. 25, 6 p.m.; Lindsey Burns, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Morningside church: Gospel Jubilee; Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m.; Billy Woods, The Living Water Singers, The Davis Family, Kelly and Mike Igo, Hulon Carkeet, Praise Trio, Glory Bound, The Jordans and Faye Wallace, featured guests; Larry Wheeler, worship leader; Donnie Lodatto, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Stevendale church: The Dixie Echoes in concert; Jan. 24, 7 p.m.; Michael J. LoBrutto, pastor.   • PINEVILLE - Louisiana College: Presents "Diana of Dobson" theatre production; Jan. 22-24, and 29-31, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 25 and Feb 1, 2:30 p.m.; Jonathan Bank of New York, director; Rory Lee, president.   • GONZALES - Central church: Tim Frith and The Gospel Echos in concert; Feb. 1; covered dish lunch, followed by The Gospel Echos at 1:30 p.m.; James "Jay" Matthew Avance Jr., pastor.   Anniversaries   • SHREVEPORT - Western Hills church: H. D. Smith, 20 years as pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - … [Read more...]

How can Christian churches battle the legalization of homosexual unions? How can they begin to reverse the 30-year fallout of "no-fault divorce"? As director of the Covenant Marriage Movement, Phil Waugh said he sees one key step Christians must take - returning to a solid adherence to God’s design for marriage as a covenant relationship. How can Christian churches battle the legalization of homosexual unions? How can they begin to reverse the 30-year fallout of "no-fault divorce"?   As director of the Covenant Marriage Movement, Phil Waugh said he sees one key step Christians must take - returning to a solid adherence to God’s design for marriage as a covenant relationship.   "(The movement’s) desire is not so much to change the American culture as it is to change the culture of the church - the bride of Christ," Waugh said, citing the high divorce rate within the church. "As we, the bride of Christ, are called back to the adherence to marriage as a covenant, then, society will be impacted by our witness."   To advance that vision, Waugh’s group has designated Sunday, Feb. 15, as Covenant Marriage Sunday 2004. Leaders say they hope 50,000 congregations worldwide will celebrate … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists set another record in giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in 2003. Gifts for the annual offering total $49,650,270 last year. Southern Baptists set another record in giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions in 2003.   Gifts for the annual offering total $49,650,270 last year.   The 2003 Annie Offering was 1 percent over the previous year," North American Mission Board President Robert Reccord said. "Considering the economic downturn we’ve experienced, that’s quite remarkable. The influence of (the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union) across North America is what helps Southern Baptists focus on the mission, the missionaries and the offering that supports them.   "On their behalf, thank you."   However, despite the increase in giving, the year-end total was nearly 7 percent short of the $53 million national goal. That continues a trend of stagnant and - in some cases, declining - mission offerings among Southern Baptists.   The shortfall creates problems for the mission board, which counts on the offering as a major source of funding.   "We are so thankful for … [Read more...]

Everyone likes to be recognized. That is the reason the letter thrills me. Everyone likes to be recognized. That is the reason the letter thrills me.   The official letter on the letterhead of "Manchester Who’s Who empowering executives and professionals" said someone recently appointed me as a biographical candidate in a volume of their Who’s Who. I checked again, and sure enough, the letter is not a "to whom it may concern" or "resident," it is addressed to me personally, "Lynn Clayton." Cannot be a mistake.   Then, the next paragraph says that the company is "pleased to inform you that your candidacy was approved. Your confirmation for inclusion will be effective within 5 business days, pending our receipt of the enclosed and application."   How wonderful. I wish my father and mother were still alive to know of this honor. They would have been so proud to know their son was being recognized. They would have been pleased, just as soon as they got over the shock.   And my kids . . . I can just imagine how proud they will be when I show them the award. Their attitude has always been, "Who’s He?" And now, I will be in the 2003/2004 Honors Edition of the Registry. I will point … [Read more...]

For the published week of January 29, 2004 Seminary loss   J. Hardee Kennedy, retired academic vice president and professor emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, died Dec. 28 in Meridian, Miss. He was 88. Kennedy served 34 years on the New Orleans Seminary faculty during a career of nearly 40 years in education. Kennedy was elected to the seminary faculty shortly after completing the doctor of theology degree there in 1947. From 1959-68, he served as dean of the seminary’s school of theology. He was named vice president for academic affairs in 1972, serving until 1981. "For generations of seminary students, J. Hardee Kennedy was the perfect illustration of the word ‘proper,’" seminary President Chuck Kelley said. "Gracious in spirit, dignity personified in manner, passionate in scholarship and ministry, and impeccable in integrity, Dr. Kennedy set a high standard for the life, character and behavior of a minister of the gospel." Kennedy was active in church work and in denominational work, serving on various state and national committees. During his academic career, he authored six books and numerous journal articles. He is survived by one … [Read more...]

One of the best examples of what drives a tremendous segment of marketing in the United States is the explosion of the number of homosexual characters on television. One of the best examples of what drives a tremendous segment of marketing in the United States is the explosion of the number of homosexual characters on television.   For decades we have understood that marketers are convinced that sex sells products and sex garners viewers. Some readers are old enough to remember the attractive blond urging a man to "take it all off" as he shaves in time with well-known "stripper" music. Sales of the shaving products went up. Such blatant sexuality, even with tongue-in-cheek, was rather shocking for its day, but the shock and the sex sold shaving products. Sex became more and more a staple of marketing.   Apparently, television network executives watched the numbers of viewers slip and thought, "Sex sells products; sex will sell television shows." After all, movie channels such as Home Box Office and Showtime had viewers paying to watch their sexually-explicit Hollywood movies. To compete, "free" channels believed they had to push the envelope of sexuality further. It was like the movie … [Read more...]

the restaurant patron turns to the young Hispanic woman who had just delivered the ordered food to his table. The restaurant patron turns to the young Hispanic woman who had just delivered the ordered food to his table.   "I’m about to pray and bless the food," he says. "Is there any need in your life I could pray for?"   That patron is not an evangelist or pastor but an ordinary man with a passion for sharing the gospel with anyone, anywhere, anytime - Ron Cogburn, president of a consulting firm in Dallas, husband and father and a member at First Baptist Church of Colleyville, Texas.   Cogburn sends out a weekly e-mail called "The Soul Winner’s Diary" in which he shares his own stories and those of others that demonstrate the power of the gospel to change lives. In his entry for July 17, 2003, he wrote about his soul-winning adventure from that same day in an electronics store.   "The gentleman that helped me was very courteous and proactive in anticipating my questions and concerns," he notes. "During the entire process, I was looking for the right opportunity to ask him if he was a Christian.   "As we concluded the purchase, he placed the (purchased) computer … [Read more...]

Walk onto "the yard" at the Sierra Conservation Center prison in Jamestown, Calif. - and one soon notices the standard foot attire. Walk onto "the yard" at the Sierra Conservation Center prison in Jamestown, Calif. - and one soon notices the standard foot attire.   No one dares go to the yard without his prison boots. Since the possibility of a fight between rival gangs and ethnic groups breaking out at any moment is high, every prisoner needs boots for extra mobility and protection. In fact, a prisoner who walks out without boots might be disciplined by members of his own gang.   So, when inmate Danny Duchene told a gathering of a couple hundred prisoners on the yard to take off their boots because they were standing on holy ground, one could have heard a pin drop. Even the guys leaning on the fence to watch the church service from a distance were surprised.   But in a show of unity and courage, more than 100 men took off their shoes in unison, signaling to others that this was God’s yard now.   "When they did that, they actually did two things," says George Stephens, a volunteer worker from Crossroads Church in Copperopolis, Calif. "Certainly, they did it because they … [Read more...]

Score another one for all of those individuals who warned Louisiana lawmakers about the perils of legalized gambling several years ago. Score another one for all of those individuals who warned Louisiana lawmakers about the perils of legalized gambling several years ago.   In a Jan. 20, 2004, editorial regarding Indian casinos, the Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper makes the case succinctly - "Gambling isn’t a good source of government revenue, and Louisiana is far too dependent on it."   Well said.   But if that is the case, why can Louisiana residents expect to face a barrage of pro-gambling measures in this year’s legislative session?   And why is talk still heard about expanding gambling in the state - as in the latest effort by a tribe of Louisiana Native Americans to open yet another casino in the state?   The latter is what the Advocate editorial addresses specifically - the efforts of the Jena Band of Choctaws, who are seeking to open a land-based casino in Logansport.   As reported two weeks ago in the Baptist Message, 40 acres of land in Logansport already has been approved by the federal government as tribal land.   Now, the tribe … [Read more...]