For the week of November 27, 2003 Partial-birth abortions   Injunctions recently issued by three different judges appear to have prevented enforcement of the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act for most of the nation. One observer says the trio of injunctions have resulted in a "pretty broad-based ban" on the law. The actions come as no surprise. Observers agree the law that would ban a controversial late-term abortion procedure ultimately will end up in the U.S. Supreme Court for a decision. Both proponents and opponents of the law are rallying for what figures to be a long court fight. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has issued a statement saying it will "continue to strongly defend the law prohibiting partial-birth abortions using every resource necessary." The law would ban a procedure in which a late-term baby is almost fully delivered, then aborted   Christmas project   LifeWay Christian Stores has announced plans to assist Operation Christmas Child, the annual project of Samaritan’s Purse to provide needy children worldwide with gift-filled shoeboxes. All LifeWay Christian Stores locations - excluding the seminary stores and conference centers - are scheduled to host an … [Read more...]

John Wycliff, "the Morning Star of the Reformation," burned with a passion to get the Bible into the hands of every man in his native tongue. Note: The following article is the fifth 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, Free-lance writer   John Wycliff, "the Morning Star of the Reformation," burned with a passion to get the Bible into the hands of every man in his native tongue.   Translating the Latin Vulgate into 14th century English, he became the first to give the whole Bible to his generation in their native tongue. A granite pillar in his honor fittingly stands in Lutterworth, England where he did most of his preaching. On it is the text, "Search the Scriptures."   Indeed, great preachers are usually readers of many books, but they are anchored to the Bible supremely.   John Bunyan (1628-1688) spent 12 years in … [Read more...]

While professional baseball players competed this past summer for sports championships, four Louisiana College athletes and faculty won something more precious than a ball game - lost souls for Christ. While professional baseball players competed this past summer for sports championships, four Louisiana College athletes and faculty won something more precious than a ball game - lost souls for Christ.   These short-term missionaries were among 500 sports missions volunteers the International Sports Federation helped facilitate through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.   International Sports Federation is a network of coaches and athletes who work with Southern Baptist missionaries to share Christ’s love where traditional missions efforts often cannot go.   Federation Associate Director Sara Beth Fentress spoke to students about the program during a morning chapel service last month at Louisiana College. Fentress and the other six full-time federation staff members travel to colleges and churches in the United States, with the goal of recruiting Christians who have a desire to serve God through sports missions.   Though the organization utilizes the … [Read more...]

For the week of November 27, 2003 Potpourri   • ; SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: James Young, former missionary in Yemen, guest speaker; Nov. 30, 10:45 a.m.; Marty J. Wright, pastor.   • ; OAKDALE - Trinity church: Bill Robertson, guest speaker for special celebration; Dec. 1, 7 p.m.; Tony Robinson, pastor.   • ; HODGE - Hodge church: Jennifer Permenter in concert; Nov. 30, 10:45 a.m.; Dwayne M. Boudreaux, pastor.   Revivals   • ; SICILY ISLAND - First church: Nov. 30, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Dec. 1-3, 7 p.m.; The Lisemby Family Ministries, evangelists/musical guests; Larry Tucker, pastor.   • ; PONCHATOULA - Millville church: Nov. 30, 6 p.m.; Dec. 1-2, 6:30 p.m.; Leo Miller, evangelist; Glynn Fendlason, music; Stanley Day, pastor.   Christmas Programs   • ; RIVER RIDGE - Riverside church: "A Thrill of Hope" musical; Dec. 14, 6 p.m.; Chris Smith, interim minister of music; Joseph Miller, pastor.   • ; MONROE - Parkview church: "The Sounds of Christmas" musical; Dec. 7, 6 p.m.; Darrell Washam, minister of music; Mike Hamilton, pastor.   • ; DENHAM SPRINGS - Riverside church: Children’s choir presents "A Peanut Butter … [Read more...]

Iraqis cheered as a volunteer team moved through their neighborhood to give out cartons of food sent by Southern Baptists across America.   Children ran up to the Southern Baptist men from North Carolina, like they were uncles, giggling and jostling to get close. Mothers handed over babies to be held, and the few men around extended greetings. Iraqis cheered as a volunteer team moved through their neighborhood to give out cartons of food sent by Southern Baptists across America.   Children ran up to the Southern Baptist men from North Carolina, like they were uncles, giggling and jostling to get close. Mothers handed over babies to be held, and the few men around extended greetings.   "It reminded me of kids coming up to Jesus," says Jim Walker, a digital press artist from East Bend, N.C.   The 10-day project in late October and early November was just a small part of a massive, months-long Southern Baptist effort to help the Iraqi people by providing 45,000 boxes of food.   Many thousands of Southern Baptists in America had stuffed each carton with about 70 pounds of basic foodstuffs, enough to feed a family of four for several weeks. If all the cartons could be … [Read more...]

A 1997 shift in missions strategy has more than doubled the number of people groups hearing the gospel and jump-started explosive church growth around the world, Southern Baptist International Mission Board leaders reported recently. A 1997 shift in missions strategy has more than doubled the number of people groups hearing the gospel and jump-started explosive church growth around the world, Southern Baptist International Mission Board leaders reported recently. Leaders offered the report to board trustees during their recent meeting. During the meeting, trustees also responded to recent criticism of board leadership and strategy and adopted a trimmed-back $258.9 million budget for 2004. The meeting also included the appointment of 67 new missionaries headed for overseas service in 29 countries. The key report offered a five-year evaluation of the "New Directions" emphasis that shifted the board’s missions focus from geographical countries to ethno-linguistic people groups. The emphasis organized missionaries into teams with a goal of reaching previously-neglected people groups and sparking rapid church-planting movements. Among the key findings of the survey: • The number of people groups engaged by Southern … [Read more...]

"What do you say?" For children whose parents want them to be polite, the answer may be, "Excuse me," but more likely, "Thank you."   As a loving father, God has implored his children to express thanks. From the early Jewish days of thanksgiving sacrifices to the Epistles’ command to "Give thanks in all things," God wants his children to be thankful and express that thanksgiving. "What do you say?" For children whose parents want them to be polite, the answer may be, "Excuse me," but more likely, "Thank you."   As a loving father, God has implored his children to express thanks. From the early Jewish days of thanksgiving sacrifices to the Epistles’ command to "Give thanks in all things," God wants his children to be thankful and express that thanksgiving.   Jesus himself set the example as he prayed, over what we assume were, his meager meals. His thanksgiving at meals was so significant that later his followers recognized him after his resurrection by the depth of his thanksgiving.   Why?   Certainly, not because God has some kind of frail ego that requires constant appreciation. Certainly, not because he will whimper in some dark corner if his children are not … [Read more...]

Calvin Walters (not his real name) arrived in Southeast Asia with a vision for reaching Muslims for Christ. The question was - where to start?   Indonesia’s nearly 220 million people make up the largest Muslim nation in the world. They inhabit 4,000 of the 17,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago - stretching 4000 miles across the Indian Ocean. Calvin Walters (not his real name) arrived in Southeast Asia with a vision for reaching Muslims for Christ. The question was - where to start?   Indonesia’s nearly 220 million people make up the largest Muslim nation in the world. They inhabit 4,000 of the 17,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago - stretching 4000 miles across the Indian Ocean.   "There are only so many things you can get your mind around," Walters says. "I thought Indonesia was made up of (only) Indonesians. (But) Trying to think of evangelizing 220 million people - that’s overwhelming. ...   "There are different people groups with different values and beliefs. You can’t learn about ‘Indonesian’ culture. What slice do you want to look at? As we learned and became more aware of unreached people groups, we knew we had to be among a group," Walters … [Read more...]