How do you structure a church so it just keeps on growing and does not plateau? I believe there are 10 essentials you must focus on as you structure your church.   1. You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth. First and foremost, you need to settle on the idea that God wants his church to grow. How do you structure a church so it just keeps on growing and does not plateau? I believe there are 10 essentials you must focus on as you structure your church.   1. You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth. First and foremost, you need to settle on the idea that God wants his church to grow.   And he does not want it to stop growing!   You do not ever need to apologize for wanting your church to grow. God wants his church to grow; it is his will and command. The reason churches must grow is because people are going to hell without Jesus. As long as there is one person within driving distance of your church who does not know Jesus Christ, you must keep growing.   2. You must change the primary role of the pastor from minister to leader. You can grow a church to 300 with pastoral skills or ministry skills, but for it to grow beyond 300 will … [Read more...]

It is not unusual for children to come forward to pray at the altar in the West Main Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.   So, when 4-year old Brooke Martin joined the throng of children on their knees during the invitation at the end of one church service in the spring of 2001, few people probably thought anything about it. Steven Nelson SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission   It is not unusual for children to come forward to pray at the altar in the West Main Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.   So, when 4-year old Brooke Martin joined the throng of children on their knees during the invitation at the end of one church service in the spring of 2001, few people probably thought anything about it.   No doubt, most adults assumed Martin was following her older sister and her friends to the front of the church.   They could not have been more wrong.   Indeed, after several weeks of the repeated occurrence, the church was told why the little girl was coming to the front.   As it turned out, Brooke was coming to pray for hungry children she had seen in an advertisement on television.   "I knew we had to do something," pastor … [Read more...]

As unlikely as it may seem, Rick Warren insists it is true - God wants persons to become like Christ.   "You were created to become like Christ," Warren insists in "The Purpose-Driven Life," his best-selling study book. "From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his son, Jesus. Note: The Louisiana Baptist Convention currently is engaged in a pilot program to use "The Purpose-Driven Life" study by Rick Warren in several churches. Plans call for use of the study to be expanded statewide next year. As part of that effort, the Baptist Message is presenting a series of articles based on Warren’s book. This week looks at the third of five life purposes in the book.   C. Lacy Thompson, LBM Associate Editor   As unlikely as it may seem, Rick Warren insists it is true - God wants persons to become like Christ.   "You were created to become like Christ," Warren insists in "The Purpose-Driven Life," his best-selling study book. "From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his son, Jesus.   "This is your destiny."   It also is one of the five purposes of life, says Warren, pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, a … [Read more...]

Official word has come that Louisiana Baptist churches no longer have to pay sales tax on purchase of Bibles and other religious materials - at least for now. Official word has come that Louisiana Baptist churches no longer have to pay sales tax on purchase of Bibles and other religious materials - at least for now. Earlier this year, the Louisiana Department of Revenue issued a bulletin that a trio of tax exemptions had been revoked as a result of a suit won by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU had challenged the exemptions - and a federal court had sided with the organization. As a result, churches were informed they would have to start paying sales tax on the purchase of Bibles, song books and materials used for religious instruction. In addition, sales tax would have to be collected for the use of religious camp and retreat facilities, such as Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth. The cost could have been significant. However, religious leaders protested - and the state attorney general’s office decided to appeal the ruling in the case. This summer, a federal appeals court reversed the lower court ruling. Essentially, the court said it lacked jurisdiction in the case, … [Read more...]

I have a great deal of respect for Dr. Kelley and count him as a friend. I agree with him that connectionalism should always be avoided. I have a great deal of respect for Dr. Kelley and count him as a friend. I agree with him that connectionalism should always be avoided. We should never consider any entity, group or leader outside the local church to be controlling over the local church. But he inappropriately applied connectionalism, called hierarch-icalism by some, to the corporate subsidiary realm.   The Southern Baptist Convention’s use of sole membership only affirms the legal relationship between the SBC and its entities and has no bearing on the authority or autonomy of the local church. Because that autonomy is unaffected, painting sole membership with the black brush of connectionalism is unjustifiable.   For example, consider the absurdity of Broadman & Holman declaring that LifeWay Christian Resources could no longer be involved in its corporate governance because that would be connec-tionalistic and un-Baptistic.   There is nothing "un-Baptistic" about the convention wanting the documents of its entities to reflect that the SBC is the sole member of … [Read more...]

Re: Ferris Jordan’s letter to the editor about Bible drills in the Aug. 28, 2003, issue of the Baptist Message.   The letter "Promote the Drills" by Ferris Jordan caught my attention bringing back many memories. Re: Ferris Jordan’s letter to the editor about Bible drills in the Aug. 28, 2003, issue of the Baptist Message.   The letter "Promote the Drills" by Ferris Jordan caught my attention bringing back many memories.   In 1942, my husband and I moved to Baton Rouge, became members at First Baptist Church and were enlisted to work in the Jr. Training Union Department with the nine-year old group. Mrs. H. M. Clark was the department director, and Paul Peters was the Training Union director.   Here, I first learned of Junior Bible Memory Drill. One Sunday night, Ferris did a demonstration drill in the sanctuary before the entire congregation. It was amazing; he did a perfect drill. This was such an opportunity to get the plan of salvation to the children.   In 1947, we moved to Jackson, Miss., continuing Training Union work and Bible drills at Hillcrest Baptist Church.   Then, it was back to Baton Rouge in 1957 and to Parkview Baptist Church for more … [Read more...]

For the week of October 2, 2003 Potpourri ALEXANDRIA - Calvary church: The Louisiana Baptist Singing Ministers and Singing Women in concert; Oct. 9, 7 p.m.; Jim Faull, state music and worship director; David Brooks, pastor. MARION - Dean church: Johnny Parrack and Triumphant in concert; Oct. 11, 7 p.m.; Donald Reeves, pastor. GRAY, Texas - Gray church: Under His Wings in concert; Oct. 3, 6 p.m.; love offering accepted; Glen Graham, pastor. MORGAN CITY - Immanuel church: Gulf Coast Associational meeting; Oct. 13, 6:45 p.m.; Bert Langley, director of missions; Paul Wilson, pastor. LAFAYETTE - Emmanuel church: Evangeline Associational meeting; Oct. 20, 6:45 p.m. pre-session music with meeting to follow; Bert Langley, director of missions; Larry L. Langley, pastor. TIOGA - First church: Alan Hix, guest speaker; Oct. 19, 6 p.m.; David E. Cranford, pastor. WALKER - Walker church: "Fall Into Wellness" Health Fair; Oct. 16, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Richard Blue, pastor. DENHAM SPRINGS - Riverside church: Eastern Louisiana Associational meeting; Oct. 20, 7 p.m. with reception for Reggie Ogea, guest speaker, to follow; Larry Badon, interim director of missions; Gerald Martin, pastor. LIVINGSTON - … [Read more...]

The Southern Baptist Convention and its entities will face a financial crisis in the near future unless giving to the denomination increases, a new report warns. The Southern Baptist Convention and its entities will face a financial crisis in the near future unless giving to the denomination increases, a new report warns.   The report by the SBC Funding Study Committee finds that giving by church members has decreased gradually during the past 30 years and is far below the biblical standard of the tithe.   In addition, churches are forwarding less of their offerings through the Cooperative Program than they did two decades ago and are sending less of their money to missions.   Those factors and the sluggish economy already have impacted the number of missionaries on the field and tuition rates at convention seminaries. Barring an increase in giving, that situation will continue to deteriorate, the report warns.   The funding report was reviewed and adopted unanimously by the SBC Executive Committee last week. See below for information on other Executive Committee actions   It focuses on an area of concern for many national and state convention leaders - the … [Read more...]

It is billed as the first Bible "designed to look like a teen fashion magazine" - and it is selling.   But not everyone is sold on it. It is billed as the first Bible "designed to look like a teen fashion magazine" - and it is selling.   But not everyone is sold on it.   Transit Books released "Revolve: The Complete New Testament" this summer in hopes of getting more teenage girls to read the Bible. To do so, they interspersed books of the New Testament with items normally reserved for youth fashion magazines.   For example, one page contains most of Luke 21, along with a graphic showing a guy describing the "ideal girl." On another page, a few inches from John 3:16, teenage girls can read tips on plucking their eyebrows (begin by "placing a warm rag over them").   Supporters say the colorful design will get more teenage girls into the Word of God.   However, critics say that while the intent is good, the result trivializes Scripture.   Even the cover looks like a fashion magazine - three young girls laughing. Teasers on the cover attempt include: "Are You Dating a Godly Guy?" and "Radical Faith: What Scripture Really Means."   A … [Read more...]

It just happens that incredible pain in my lower back. And, it happened that Sunday evening. It just happens that incredible pain in my lower back. And, it happened that Sunday evening.   The pain was so intense that moving in bed was impossible. Waiting to see a doctor would just mean a wasted sleepless night of pain, and who needed that? And, if I waited, it would waste all that time of sleeplessness in bed. In the morning, my doctor would send me to the hospital for an x-ray and a shot or two of cortisone. That is the way it has been for years.   Should I wake the Mrs. and tell her where I’m headed? No, she will insist on driving me. No reason to wake her at 12:30 a.m. — it had been a long and tiring Sunday. Besides, no one ever gets into and out emergency waiting and treatment rooms in less than 48 hours, unless the person is critically ill and a painful back only makes one feel the need for relief is critical. No reason for Leah to sit there all that time when she could be asleep in her own bed. Besides, I will be back and asleep beside her again before she knows I am gone.   So, quietly, if painfully, I slide out of the bed and leave the Mrs. sleeping and creep to the car, … [Read more...]