A fall gathering: November is just around the corner, which means Louisiana Baptists must be preparing for their annual state convention - as always, it looks to be a time of business, fellowship and inspiration A fall gathering: November is just around the corner, which means Louisiana Baptists must be preparing for their annual state convention - as always, it looks to be a time of business, fellowship and inspiration   The chill of fall is in the air, and that means only one thing - the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention is just around the corner.   Hundreds of Louisiana Baptist church members are scheduled to gather at the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette on Nov. 10-11 for their annual meeting of business, fellowship and inspiration.   This year’s gathering has been low-key in buildup, unlike some previous years.   Only one person has announced plans to be nominated as convention president, despite the fact that it is an open election year. Steve James of Lake Charles has served a pair of one-year terms and is ineligible for re-election.   In past years, that meant a contest.   This year, only Philip Robertson has announced plans to be … [Read more...]

in a recent issue of the Baptist Message, I noticed two guest editorials regarding the preponderance of objectionable media content. In a recent issue of the Baptist Message, I noticed two guest editorials regarding the preponderance of objectionable media content. I also applaud your call to action by concerned Christians wanting to impact American media for Christ.   Southern Baptists provide an alternative television viewing option for today’s families through our own full-time television network - FamilyNet. The signal reaches millions of homes in the United States and Canada with quality, family-friendly, child-safe programming. In addition, the Good News is proclaiming as well as spot announcements. And in concert with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board’s evangelism response center, persons are able to call a toll-free telephone number and talk with someone who cares about them.   From TruthQuest: California - a FamilyNet production for youth done in cooperation with LifeWay and Baptist Press - to Mary Lou’s Flip Flop Shop, a half-hour children’s show with Olympic Gold Medalist (and Southern Baptist) Mary Lou Retton - to Swan’s Place featuring Southern Baptist humorist … [Read more...]

Thank you for the series of articles that have been included in the Louisiana Baptist Message about Rick Warren’s "The Purpose-Driven Life" and the 40 Days of Purpose Journey. Thank you for the series of articles that have been included in the Louisiana Baptist Message about Rick Warren’s "The Purpose-Driven Life" and the 40 Days of Purpose Journey.   This week, we have received so many calls wanting details about the 40 Days of Purpose campaign in Louisiana. And we are hearing some tremendous testimonies about what God is doing through this spiritual journey.   I appreciate so much your emphasis - it has created a tremendous awareness for what we pray will be a spiritual journey that will change the lives of people, the churches where they serve and, ultimately, the communities in which they live.   Jim Gifford LBC Church Growth and Sunday School director … [Read more...]

After talking with a trustee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and after reading the article about the move to have the Southern Baptist Convention (the Executive Committee) as the sole member of the corporation, I feel compelled to write. After talking with a trustee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and after reading the article about the move to have the Southern Baptist Convention (the Executive Committee) as the sole member of the corporation, I feel compelled to write.   While I am "in the camp" of the conservative resurgence, I feel that the Executive Committee is in violation of Baptist polity and, equally important, seems to have a short-sighted view of TRUST.   I view this move as an effort to gain absolute control over all our institutions by our Executive Committee. Frankly, it smacks of paranoia.   By all means, we must be assured that only Christ-honoring, truthful and decent persons are elected to these boards of trustees, but having elected them, let them do the work to which they were called.   Micromanaging by the Executive Committee will not work, nor is it "the Baptist way."   Bobby W. Bonds, Pastor Mt. Hope Baptist … [Read more...]

For the week of October 23, 2003 Potpourri • BOSSIER CITY - Airline church: Testify in concert; Nov. 2, 10:45 a.m.; Jerry Elkins, music director; Harrell Shelton, associate pastor. • TIOGA - First church: Dean Doster, guest speaker; Nov. 2, 6 p.m.; David E. Cranford, pastor. • OAKDALE - Trinity church: Family Bible Conference sponsored by Mt. Olive Association; Nov. 3-6, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Philip Robertson, Julian Woods, Ricky Gresham and Tom Smith, guest speakers; Bill Earl, keynote speaker; Scotty McDowell, evangelist/chalk artist; for information, call (318) 335-2757; Tony Robinson, pastor. • MONTGOMERY - Union Hill church: Brian Free and Assurance in concert; Oct. 23, 7 p.m.; Ernest Little, pastor. • HAYNESVILLE - First church: Ladies Fall Celebration Day Seminar; Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Judy Wallace, guest speaker/soloist; $12 per person, includes 11 a.m. brunch; Oct. 26 registration deadline, call (318) 624-0214; Shelby Cowling, pastor. • HAYNESVILLE - First church: Men’s Ministry chili supper with Jack Daniels, guest speaker; Oct. 25, 6 p.m.; Shelby Cowling, pastor. • BALL - First church: Gospel Concert; Oct. 25; The Southern Plainsmen, 12 noon; Tommy Drewett Family, 2 p.m. and Kingdom Bound, … [Read more...]

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously recently not to change its articles of incorporation to name the Southern Baptist Convention as its "sole member." New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously recently not to change its articles of incorporation to name the Southern Baptist Convention as its "sole member."   The action makes the seminary the only convention entity not to make the change.   At the same time, seminary trustees approved a motion reaffirming its "deep and abiding commitment to the Southern Baptist Convention."   Since the mid-1990s, denominational entities have been amending their articles of incorporation in order to make the Southern Baptist Convention what is called in legal terms their "sole member."   Proponents of the process say that sole membership primarily will do two things.   First, it will explain the legal relationship between the convention and its entities in terms with which modern courts are familiar, thus saving time, paperwork and money in court cases.   Second, it will prevent an entity’s board of trustees from doing what some college trustees have done in … [Read more...]

A tragic bus accident on I-20 last week some two miles west of Tallulah claimed the lives of eight people who were on a 16-day church tour of historic sites in southern, eastern and northeastern states. A tragic bus accident on I-20 last week some two miles west of Tallulah claimed the lives of eight people who were on a 16-day church tour of historic sites in southern, eastern and northeastern states. The bus was owned and operated by First Baptist Church of Eldorado, Texas, and the tour was sponsored by the church. The bus was eastbound on I-20 with 13 passengers and two drivers on board. News reports indicate the driver said he went to sleep at the wheel and drifted into an 18-wheeler loaded with compressed cotton and parked on the right-hand shoulder of the interstate. The driver survived the crash. John Rushing, pastor at First Baptist Church of Tallulah, said he went to the hospital to be of whatever assistance possible. Two injured passengers initially were taken to the relatively small hospital in the community but then were transferred to hospitals in Mississippi. A temporary morgue was set up at the hospital as well. Rushing said he found that there was little he could do because families of the … [Read more...]

Was it Eddie Arnold who first sang, "Have I told you lately that I love you..."? If it was not, it should have been. Eddie could sing that kind of song like no one before him or after. (My apologies to those readers who are too young to know about the velvet voiced Purina farm boy who sang to us every Saturday from our Philco.) Was it Eddie Arnold who first sang, "Have I told you lately that I love you..."? If it was not, it should have been. Eddie could sing that kind of song like no one before him or after. (My apologies to those readers who are too young to know about the velvet voiced Purina farm boy who sang to us every Saturday from our Philco.) That song probably got more husbands to say to their wives, "Have I told you lately that I love you?" than all the articles in Reader’s Digest and sermons from Baptist pulpits aimed at that purpose put together. Interesting, is it not, that we almost never have to be reminded to say what we want, but often have to be reminded to say "thank you" when we receive it? Maybe that is the reason the Southern Baptist Convention folks acknowledge the importance of designating October as Minister Appreciation Month. How refreshing, to have a legitimate month among National … [Read more...]

For the week of October 30, 2003 Correction In last week’s Baptist Message, it was reported that Fred Lowery of Bossier City would preach at the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference. Actually, Fred Luter of New Orleans is scheduled to preach at the conference. The conference is set for Nov. 10 at East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Also, in last week’s Baptist Message, two errors appeared in the listing of nominees to convention committees and boards. Ken Norris was incorrectly listed as pastor at Brookwood Baptist Church in Shreveport. He actually is pastor at Benson Baptist Church in Mansfield. Charles Hutzler was incorrectly listed as pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. He actually is pastor at Hebron Baptist Church in Dry Prong. Also, the Oct. 16 story entitled "Reason to smile - LBC church reaches out in love" should have included in the byline "from material submitted by Joyce Richards Case." Photos were courtesy of Tammi Woerner. LC Wildcat Day Louisiana College has scheduled its annual Wildcat Day for November 8 on the Pineville campus. Wildcat Day is designed to give high school students an overview of college life at Louisiana College. It offers … [Read more...]

Anyone who says, "You cannot legislate morality" has not read, seen or heard the news, particularly the last few weeks. One can say with accuracy that moral motivation or intent cannot be legislated and that a law does not determine the morality of an act. Anyone who says, "You cannot legislate morality" has not read, seen or heard the news, particularly the last few weeks. One can say with accuracy that moral motivation or intent cannot be legislated and that a law does not determine the morality of an act. But certainly moral actions can be legislated and immoral actions can be prohibited legislatively. Some would say almost all laws have moral and ethical considerations and implications.   At this moment, several legal matters with profound moral issues are being affected by legislators, judges and government executives.   On page two of this issue of the Baptist Message, a news brief reports that the United States Senate has approved a ban on partial-birth abortion and that President Bush is certain to sign the bill into law. There is little question that the bill deals directly with a moral issue, even if some believe the practice is not immoral. And, until the bill becomes law, partial … [Read more...]