Former Southern Baptist Convention President Charles Stanley has clarified comments regarding the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message and its stance on women. Former Southern Baptist Convention President Charles Stanley has clarified comments regarding the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message and its stance on women.   In a Baptist Press article, Stanley said he "absolutely" supports the faith statement. However, he did say one amendment should have been clarified and another not included in the faith statement at all.   Stanley’s comments come on the heels of a newspaper article that quoted Stanley as disagreeing with the Baptist Faith and Message on two issues - the role of pastor being reserved for men and the submission of wives to husbands.   Stanley said the article did not print comments in context and omitted significant ones. However, the reporter who interviewed Stanley has defended his article, releasing a written transcript of the taped interview.   Stanley is pastor at First Baptist Church in Atlanta and is a popular radio and television preacher. He was interviewed by Jim Jones of the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper while in Texas. Stanley said the article was meant to … [Read more...]

Everyone agrees - he preaches with the fervor of a prophet, and she sings like an angel.   Together, they are so dynamic that it is difficult to believe they have each experienced a bitter divorce and custody battle - with each other. Everyone agrees - he preaches with the fervor of a prophet, and she sings like an angel.   Together, they are so dynamic that it is difficult to believe they have each experienced a bitter divorce and custody battle - with each other.   On the outside, the Forehand family once seemed perfect. Dale was a successful businessman, a deacon at First Baptist Church of Trussville, Ala., and a Sunday School teacher. Jena was an accomplished soloist who immersed herself in choir activities and raising two children, Cole and Jorja.   However, on the inside, the Forehands’ marriage was dying.   Married couples "are looking to their spouses with unrealistic expectations, so they get very disappointed when these are not met," Dale Forehand says, looking back.   This disappointment often leads to a demand that needs be met by a spouse, he says. When this does not happen, the spouses feel defeated, and many quit.   Dale … [Read more...]

For the week of November 13, 2003 Cooperative Program   Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled $15.7 million last month, an increase of almost $2 million (14.4 percent) from the previous October. The total also was $465,984 (3.5 percent) ahead of budget for the month. In addition, designated gifts totaled $19.1 million, an increase of about $2.6 million (15.7 percent). October marked the start of a new fiscal year for the convention.   Louisiana foundation   Funds invested at the Louisiana Baptist Foundation exceeded their benchmarks - or target goals - during the first nine months of the year, agency Executive Director Wayne Taylor reported recently. The foundation’s short-term, fixed, equity and group funds all exceeded performance goals, Taylor reported during the agency’s recent trustee meeting. At the same time, Taylor told trustees the agency is open to looking at alternative investment options that will help invested funds grow better and will limit losses. During the recent meeting, trustees approved a motion regarding the investment of gift annuities. The change is designed to give such funds a better chance of growing longterm. A gift annuity is … [Read more...]

This week in Lafayette, messengers from churches affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention met in Lafayette and "large numbers" were the order of the day. This week in Lafayette, messengers from churches affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention met in Lafayette and "large numbers" were the order of the day.   Messengers were counted in the hundreds and the number of churches affiliated with the convention totaled more than 1600. Total membership of these churches number more than 600,000. Messengers decided upon a budget that totaled into the tens of millions of dollars. Big numbers.   The millions of dollars will support in Louisiana dozens of missionaries and hundreds of mission works. It will also help educate hundreds of students and support faculty and staff at Louisiana College and a children’s home that cares for dozens of children. It will also support Collegiate Ministries for thousands of other students in the state’s colleges and universities. It will enable the Executive Board staff to equip and train thousands of people. The money helps provide a newspaper sent to tens of thousands and support a foundation that invests tens of millions of dollars. Big … [Read more...]

Despite last month’s deadly attack on the Red Cross headquarters in Baghdad that resulted in 36 fatalities, the Iraqi food box distribution project will continue - with Louisiana Baptists help. Despite last month’s deadly attack on the Red Cross headquarters in Baghdad that resulted in 36 fatalities, the Iraqi food box distribution project will continue - with Louisiana Baptists help.   Seventy-pound boxes containing staple food items began arriving in Iraq Aug. 21. Louisiana Baptists contributed to the effort, though the exact number of food boxes assembled is unknown.   Louisiana Baptists assembled and dropped off boxes at one of seven locations statewide in May.   "I was so proud of how Louisiana Baptists responded and how they met the needs of hungry Iraqis," said Loy Seal, Louisiana Baptist Convention director of men’s and volunteer ministries. "They answered the call and I want Louisiana Baptists to continue to be on mission."   Seal said his office coordinated the project with directors of missions around the state. Associational directors of missions then determined areas that served as food box distribution points.   "We felt like it was a good … [Read more...]

‘Nearly miraculous’: Even two centuries later, the Louisiana Purchase remains a truly remarkable event that opened many doors of opportunity When American representative Robert Livingston heard the offer being made by French leaders for the sale of Louisiana, he dropped his teeth - literally. When American representative Robert Livingston heard the offer being made by French leaders for the sale of Louisiana, he dropped his teeth - literally. "By his own account, Livingston, who was an elderly man and who wore, as was common at the time, false teeth made of wood, was so astonished (at the offer) that his mouth flew open and his lower plate came out and fell on the carpet in front of the president of France," explains Thomas Howell, chair of the history department at Louisiana College. "Livingston literally had to pick up his teeth off the rug." The reaction was not a surprising one. The American effort to buy the city of New Orleans and some of the immediate surrounding area had just taken an amazing turn - and the young country was about to make one tremendous deal that still defies explanation in ways. Looking back, the Louisiana Purchase represents "a nearly miraculous combination of circumstances … [Read more...]

Note: The following article represents the third in an 11-part series on "Characteristics of Great Preachers." The 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. Note: The following article represents the third in an 11-part series on "Characteristics of Great Preachers." The 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   Great preachers tend to feel deeply, and they are not likely to be bashful about expressing those feelings.   They are passionate souls.   Their love is focused in two directions - toward their fellow man and Godward. They especially have a devout love of Christ.   Take Bernard of Clairvaux, for example. He was a … [Read more...]

It is true - ministers are some of the most stressed persons in the world, Kelly Barnett notes.   That can lead to personal problems - even family problems, said Barnett, director of Granberry Counseling Centers for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. It is true - ministers are some of the most stressed persons in the world, Kelly Barnett notes.   That can lead to personal problems - even family problems, said Barnett, director of Granberry Counseling Centers for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.   However, Louisiana Baptist ministers seeking help with family or personal problems now have a new team resource - the children’s home and the state convention’s church-minister relations office.   The two entities have teamed up to offer affordable Christian counseling to ministers and their families through the Granberry Counseling Centers around the state.   One leader involved in the effort described as a "win-win" relationship.   "Ministers live in a fishbowl, ..." Barnett acknowledged. "Our goal is to help their marriage, help with their stresses."   It is a goal shared by Alan Miller, director of the Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

For the week of November 13, 2003 Potpourri • DENHAM SPRINGS - First church: Dallas Holm in concert; Nov. 15, 7 p.m.; $5 per ticket; call (225) 664-4102 for ticket information; Danny Henderson, pastor. • RIVER RIDGE - Riverside church: Testify in concert; Nov. 23, 7 p.m.; Joseph Miller, pastor. • FARMERVILLE - Antioch church: The Chordsmen in concert; Nov. 23, 6 p.m.; Paul Carter, pastor. • ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: Alan Jackson, guest speaker for Youth Parent Forum; Nov. 24, 6 p.m.; David Brooks, pastor. Revivals • SHREVEPORT - North Shreve church: Soul Harvest Day; Nov. 16, 9:45 and 11 a.m./5:30 and 6:30 p.m.; dinner on the grounds at noon; Gene Williams, evangelist; Jericho and the NSBC Youth Praise Band, special music; Steve Miller, music; Roy W. Davis, pastor. Homecomings • JONESVILLE - Utility church: Nov. 16, 10 a.m.; Danny Chaney, guest speaker; James Foster, pastor. • ALEXANDRIA - Twin Bridges church: Nov. 23, 10 a.m. with dinner on the grounds to follow; Courtland "Junior" Stokes, Jr., guest speaker; HIS Southern Gospel Singers, music; Robert Daniel, pastor. Anniversaries • JENA - Calvary Heights church: Kenneth Boyd, ten years as pastor. • VIDALIA - Riverside … [Read more...]

Rick Warren wants to make one thing very clear - a church does not have to change the biblical message in order to become purpose-driven. Rick Warren wants to make one thing very clear - a church does not have to change the biblical message in order to become purpose-driven. Being purpose-driven is about targeting who a church will reach and staying focused on that target while balancing the five biblical purposes - worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and evangelism, Warren said during a recent training conference in Lynchburg, Va. "How do you turn an audience into an army?" he asked. The goal is to move people from the outer circle of community to an inner circle, core group, he said. Warren said a survey by George Gallup once found that only 10 percent of laypeople are involved in ministry, yet another 40 percent are interested in ministry opportunities but never have been asked to serve. Citing his own church in Lake Forest, Calif., Warren said he was astonished to learn what some of his members had been involved in through their careers. "Something I do not like about big churches is how easy it is for talent to hide." In order to get such talented people involved in ministry, Warren … [Read more...]