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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Want to reach Louisiana? Then, focus, leader urges

When it comes to reaching this state with the gospel, Wayne Jenkins understands the challenge confronting Louisiana Baptists. He also understands the solution. When it comes to reaching this state with the gospel, Wayne Jenkins understands the challenge confronting Louisiana Baptists.   He also understands the solution.   The challenge is clear when one considers the baptism numbers from recent years in the state convention.   In 2000, the annual number fell just shy of 15,000.   In 2001, it dropped to 13,162.   In 2002, it hovered at 13,341.   In 2003 - well, with 190 churches and missions unreported, it stands at 12,782. If those 190 churches all reported at the state average of about nine baptisms in a year, the total would rise to 14,492.   That would be a better showing - yes. However, it would still mark a troubling slide for Louisiana.   "Over the past three years, we have been flatlined and actually have gone down (in baptisms)," said Jenkins, evangelism director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. "If we were a patient at the hospital, the family would be called in."   The picture gets worse when one considers … [Read more...]

Weekly Announcements

For the published week of January 29, 2004 Potpourri • SWARTZ - First church: Brian Free and Assurance in concert; Feb. 8, 6 p.m.; Collin Wimberly, pastor. • WEST MONROE - Fair Park church: Brothers In Christ, singing police officers, in concert; Feb . 1, 6 p.m.; Waymond Warren, pastor. • LIBUSE - Philadelphia church: Wildgame Supper; Feb. 6, 6 p.m.; Phil Robertson "the Duck Commander," guest speaker; Philip Robertson, pastor. • NEW IBERIA - Highland church: Fishing Seminar/Wild Game Supper; Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.; Glenn Chappelear, pro B.A.S.S. fisherman, guest speaker; $5 per ticket; call (337) 365-5471; Steve Horn, pastor. • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: Valentine’s Couple Retreat; for couples married seven years or less; Feb. 13, 5 p.m. registration - Feb. 14, 2 p.m.; John and Amber Reynolds, retreat leaders; Josh and Heather Dickson, musical guests; $60 per couple lodging/$40 commuters; Curt Iles, camp manager. Revivals • JACKSON - First church: Feb. 1, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Feb. 2-4, 7 p.m.; Kendall Holley, evangelist; Mark Branch, music minister; Joe B. Nesom, pastor. • LAKE CHARLES - Boulevard church: Feb. 8, 10:45 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Feb. 9-11, 7 p.m.; Ed Lacy, evangelist; Dan Morgan, music; Mark Stagg, … [Read more...]

Looking for a church minister? Tried surfing the Internet?

For more and more churches and their ministers, a match made in heaven may have been launched in cyberspace. For more and more churches and their ministers, a match made in heaven may have been launched in cyberspace. Every day, thousands of ministers log onto a constellation of Internet Web sites looking for a new church to serve. And with increasing frequency, church representatives also turn to the Web, posting ministerial vacancies and sorting through resumes. And although cybersearches may not totally replace more conventional means of finding ministers, they are gaining ground. Indeed, www.ChurchStaffing.com receives 2,500 to 3,000 visitors on weekdays and slightly fewer on weekends, say Todd Rhoades, president of the site. The site normally carries 400-500 job openings and has about 3,000 resumes on file. The site also has teamed with Leadership Network to offer www.LeadNetChurch-Staffing.com, which deals with churches with attendance that averages 1,000 or more. The Baptist General Convention of Texas hosts two free Internet-based search programs - www.CPIS.org serves churches of all sizes and ministers of all types, while www.bivocational.com specializes in bivocational ministers and smaller … [Read more...]

People still drawn to 10 Commandments monument

For visitors to the capital of Alabama, the granite monument of the Ten Commandments is the most popular attraction that is not there. For visitors to the capital of Alabama, the granite monument of the Ten Commandments is the most popular attraction that is not there.   In the rotunda of the state Supreme Court building, behind the United States and Alabama flags, the floor shows only vague scuff marks where the monument used to sit. But even in its absence, the Ten Commandments has a presence.   Tourism has gone up since the controversy over former Chief Justice Roy Moore’s monument became national news this past summer, courthouse Marshall Willie James reports. "Visitors always ask: ‘Where are the Ten Commandments? Can we see them?’" James says.   The response is that the 2.5-ton monument is locked away in a room, the private property of Moore and off-limits to the public - as court order dictates. Only two people have the necessary key to reach the monument - James and building manager Graham George Jr., a retired U.S. Army colonel.   It was George who presided over the physical removal of the commandments monument last August.   "The media was pasted up … [Read more...]

Let’s have a little chat about driving in interstate holiday traffic

Okay, gang, let’s have a little chat about driving in interstate holiday traffic. Okay, gang, let’s have a little chat about driving in interstate holiday traffic.   First, just know that getting from home to Grandma’s house is going to take longer. Count on it. Plan for it. Certainly we all want to get to Grandma’s house while the turkey is still fresh and the dressing in the back seat is still warm, but it ain’t gonna happen Accept it; it is not the end of the world.   On your drive, you can rant and rave and honk and shake fists and make everyone in your car and the cars you encounter miserable, but it will not get you there one second faster. The rest of the traffic is going some 10 miles an hour over the legal speed limit anyway, so settle for that.   You can struggle to pass every car on the road, but when the traffic is bumper to bumper for a hundred or more miles, you are wasting your time, energy and anger. I have seen drivers unmercifully pushing their autos, working for five minutes to get past one car only to have the next car go no faster and the passing lane just as clogged.   On those rare occasions the traffic opens a little, one of those uniformed folks … [Read more...]

Religious freedom still faces challenge in several nations

When the Soviet Union collapsed, doors long shut opened for gospel witness - and Christian workers flooded into that part of the world.   Now, some of those doors are threatening to close. When the Soviet Union collapsed, doors long shut opened for gospel witness - and Christian workers flooded into that part of the world.   Now, some of those doors are threatening to close.   Croatia is the latest post-communist country in Europe and Central Asia to propose a religion law that gives preferred status to majority religious groups.   Leaders suggest the latest draft of the proposed law gives minority religious communities - including Baptists - a second-class status under the majority Roman Catholic Church. The bill makes a distinction between established "historical religions" and newer groups, similar to religion laws elsewhere in the region.   Croatia’s proposed law is to be presented to parliament this spring. The latest draft recognizes the Catholic Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Jewish communities, the Islamic community, the Lutheran Church and the Reformed Church as historical churches.   Other bodies in existence at the time the law is … [Read more...]

Weekly Briefs

For the week of December 4, 2003 Correction   In the Nov. 13 issue of the Baptist Message, a cutline referred to Alexandria attorney Jean Pharis as "retired." Pharis actually continues an active law practice with Pharis Law Offices in Alexandria.   Convention finances   A third of state Baptist conventions this fall reduced their budgets for next year in order to address declines in giving by churches. Financial cutbacks were approved by messengers in Georgia, Illinois, Kansas-Nebraska, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, New England, New York and West Virginia. Despite the budget decrease in Louisiana, messengers voted to raise the Southern Baptist Convention allotment for the first time since 1988 by a quarter-percent. Others raising the national convention allotment included Nevada Baptists (quarter percent), New York Baptists (half percent) and Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptists (0.1 percent). Meanwhile, California, lowered the portion it will send the national body from 30 percent to 27 percent.   Vote against materials   During their recent annual … [Read more...]

The world is coming to this church – literally

Some congregations spend years trying to discern the Lord’s will - but leaders of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Bedford, Texas, say God simply laid it in their hands. Some congregations spend years trying to discern the Lord’s will - but leaders of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Bedford, Texas, say God simply laid it in their hands.   In July 2000, a Brazilian church started a trend when it asked to share the facilities of Woodland Heights Baptist Church.   Soon, a Korean church did the same.   Later, a 50-member Chinese church would come to use the buildings, too.   Now, Sudanese people are coming to services and may start a church on the premises soon as well.   "This has not been in our plan," Woodland Heights pastor Doug Riggs says. "It’s not something we set out to do necessarily. But it’s something God laid in our hands."   Riggs acknowledges he was not used to working in a multicultural setting. Yet, he says he has been willing to learn.   One thing he has learned is that a host church must be willing to treat the other congregations as equals. While the leaders interact and encourage each other, the congregations essentially … [Read more...]

The gift of Christmas – the wonder of Christmas-giving

Note: The following is the first of three devotionals by the Baptist Message in preparation for the Christmas season. It was written by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson.   It is one of those typical Christmas Day home videos from some largely forgot-ten past year. Note: The following is the first of three devotionals by the Baptist Message in preparation for the Christmas season. It was written by LBM Associate Editor C. Lacy Thompson.   It is one of those typical Christmas Day home videos from some largely forgot-ten past year.   The boy is young - perhaps five - and the center of attention. He is surrounded by his mother and grandparents.   He sits on the floor in pajamas, opening presents. His mother slides a box almost as big as the boy across the floor to him.   "Open that one. It’s from me."   The boy’s eyes widen. "What is it?"   The mother shakes her head. "Open it."   As the boy tears into the paper, the mother and grandmother begin talking. The camera holds the boy centerframe, but their conversation can be heard from the edge.   They do not see the drama unfolding.   The boy has largely … [Read more...]

Great preachers do not neglect the issues that really matter

A minister retired after spending more than 40 years in one pastorate. A reporter interviewed him for a feature article and asked the secret of his long tenure.   He answered: "In 40 years, I have never preached on a controversial subject." Note: The following article is the sixth in a series on "Characteristics of Great Preachers." The ongoing series was commissioned by the Louisiana Baptist Message from Austin Tucker of Shreveport, a former Louisiana Baptist pastor who now teaches and writes on religious subjects. He also is a frequent pulpit guest in churches and serves as a member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board.   Austin B. Tucker, Freelance writer   A minister retired after spending more than 40 years in one pastorate. A reporter interviewed him for a feature article and asked the secret of his long tenure.   He answered: "In 40 years, I have never preached on a controversial subject."   Personally, I should not like to be in that brother’s sandals at the judgement seat of Christ! Great preachers speak to the burning issues of their time.   Clyde Fant and Bill Pinson came to one over-arching conclusion at the end of their … [Read more...]