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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Georgia Barnette – meeting needs with perfect love

In the place called Perfect, there is no need for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering, Cindy Townsend says.   Why would there be - things simply are ideal in Perfect, points out Townsend, Louisiana Baptist director of women’s missions and ministry. Note: The 2003 Georgia Barnette Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Georgia Barnette Offering is set for Sept. 14-21.   In the place called Perfect, there is no need for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering, Cindy Townsend says.   Why would there be - things simply are ideal in Perfect, points out Townsend, Louisiana Baptist director of women’s missions and ministry.   She explains, using the script from a short skit about annual offering.   "There’s a match for every sock in the dryer, there’s a touchdown scored every time the quarterback throws the ball to his receiver, there’s cough syrup in the cabinet at 3 a.m. when your child starts coughing, women aren’t on diets because they all weigh the correct amount for their height, all men and boys have a brand-new fishing pole when the fish are biting, there’s never a golf ball hit off the course and there’s milk in the refrigerator when you … [Read more...]

Weekly Announcements

For the week of September 3, 2003 Potpourri   • START - Start church: "I Love My Church Day," Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m.; Dean Doster, guest speaker; Jeff Smart, pastor.   • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: Senior Adult Retreat; Sept. 22, 9 a.m. - Sept. 23, noon; Barry Corbett and Bill Thorn, guest speakers; Jim Reynolds and Margie Nell Walker, musical guests; $45/full-time lodger, $25/two-day commuter and $15/one-day commuter; for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   • RINGGOLD - Social Springs church: Red River Association annual meeting; Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Lee Dickson, director of missions; Jack Bell, pastor.   • ZWOLLE - First church: North Sabine Association annual meeting; Sept. 16, 7 p.m.; Lee Dickson, director of missions; Jerry Penfield, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Christus Schumpert Hospital: Ark-La-Tex Chaplains fellowship; Sept 8, 11:30 a.m. at hospital cafeteria; Kelvin Cochran, chief of Shreveport Fire Dept., speaker; for information, call (318) 681-7115; Douglas Burnley, chaplain, Christus Schumpert Hospital.   • WEST MONROE - New Chapel Hill church: Chosen in concert; Sept. 7, 6 p.m.; Greg Green, minister of music; Clyde … [Read more...]

Land levels sights on ‘direction’ of some federal judges

Judge Roy Moore’s monument to the Ten Commandments may have been locked up in a private room in the Alabama Supreme Court building, but the ruling to remove the monument has sparked a national debate that shows no sign of letting up. Judge Roy Moore’s monument to the Ten Commandments may have been locked up in a private room in the Alabama Supreme Court building, but the ruling to remove the monument has sparked a national debate that shows no sign of letting up.   Richard Land said he, like a majority of Americans, is displeased with the direction the courts are pushing the country. And he doesn’t plan on letting this issue rest, saying his concern with the way Judge Roy Moore handled the federal court order to remove the monument that featured the Ten Commandments and quotes from America’s founding fathers will not dampen his longstanding efforts to warn Americans that some judges appear intent on eroding the nation’s constitutional protections on religious expression.   Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told USA Today the order to remove the monument in Montgomery was just another in a long line of efforts to forbid and … [Read more...]

Baptist reviewers praise new film on death of Jesus

Mel Gibson’s representation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ in the upcoming movie "The Passion" surpasses all earlier efforts, Southern Baptists who were invited to view a rough cut of the film say. Mel Gibson’s representation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ in the upcoming movie "The Passion" surpasses all earlier efforts, Southern Baptists who were invited to view a rough cut of the film say. "It is certainly the most graphic and dramatic portrayal I’ve ever seen," said Gary Hearon, executive director of Dallas Baptist Association. Referring to the film’s depiction of how the crucifixion occurred, he added: "I didn’t see anything I’ve not read in Scripture, but I saw it in a more graphic way because it was portrayed before our very eyes. You see the flesh and blood flying as a result of the scourge. ... It’s very true to life." Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham added, "The movie is biblical, powerful and potentially life-changing." He predicted millions of people would see The Passion when it opens on Ash Wednesday next spring. "The thing that I’m most excited about is the opportunity it’s going to give those of us who preach the cross to explain the meaning of the cross and message of … [Read more...]

Weekly Briefs

For the week of September 25, 2003 Yemeni sentencing   An Islamic extremist was sentenced to death earlier this month for assassinating a politician and coordinating the shooting of three Southern Baptist hospital workers. Ali al-Jarallah was sentenced to death for planning the attack on a hospital in Jibla, Yemen, that resulted in the deaths of three Southern Baptist medical workers. His sentence also includes the assassination of a Yemeni government official days prior to the attack on the hospital. Al-Jarallah is the second person this year to be sentenced to death for the hospital attack. In July, Abed Abdul Razak Kamel was sentenced to death for shooting the three Baptist workers last December. Kamel said he killed the hospital workers in part because he believed they were proselytizing Muslims, which is prohibited by law. Jibla residents have said the hospital workers never proselytized.   Abortion vote   Abortion on demand is no longer a reality in Missouri, thanks in part to a decision by Sen. Harold Caskey, a Missouri Baptist, not to change his vote. Caskey joined 24 other state senators in voting 25-8 recently to override Gov. Bob Holden’s veto of House Bill 156, which … [Read more...]

‘Now, I know I never told the computer to do that!’

“Computers only do what you tell them to do.” That is a commonly-quoted but totally inaccurate statement. I have never told any computer that controls so much of my truck to do anything, at least that I know. I certainly did not tell it to do what it did in Anacoco. If I had told it to do something, it certainly would not have been to do what it did. “Computers only do what you tell them to do.” That is a commonly-quoted but totally inaccurate statement. I have never told any computer that controls so much of my truck to do anything, at least that I know. I certainly did not tell it to do what it did in Anacoco. If I had told it to do something, it certainly would not have been to do what it did. Someone told me there are at least six computers controlling various aspects of my truck’s operation. The manufacturers of my truck, in their infinite wisdom, believe that the computers enable my truck to be at peak performance. But those same manufacturers do not have the wisdom to ensure the electrical cables attach firmly and lastingly to the battery. I am not a technology expert, but even I know the electrical cables must attach firmly and lastingly to the battery or the automobile and its six computers and … [Read more...]

This church’s AIDS message is clear – ‘We’re All In This Together’

The past 10 years in the fight against HIV and AIDS has been marked by advances in medical research, a deeper public understanding of the disease and people living longer with the virus. The past 10 years in the fight against HIV and AIDS has been marked by advances in medical research, a deeper public understanding of the disease and people living longer with the virus. Even so, when it comes to the dreaded disease, much still remains the same. A cure has not been found, and tens of thousands of people are infected annually with the deadly virus. However, at the same time, Brentwood Baptist Church in Houston continues reminding its community, “We’re All In This Together.” This fall marks the 10th anniversary of Project W.A.I.T.T., a federally-funded AIDS care program by the church’s non-profit outreach organization, the Brentwood Community Foundation. The project was one of the first church-related efforts to help AIDS clients in the country. The effort began with church members visiting AIDS patients in the hospital, says Willie Sylvester, director of the project. It quickly multiplied to become one of the premiere outreaches in the country as the congregation discovered more ways to help. “We can … [Read more...]

This church was dying – now, thanks to a fellow congregation, it is growing

Years ago, Fred Luter Jr. was issued a challenge – grow Franklin Avenue Baptist Church or close it. He chose the former. Now 17 years later, the New Orleans predominantly African-American church has been called upon to help yet another Baptist church survive. Years ago, Fred Luter Jr. was issued a challenge – grow Franklin Avenue Baptist Church or close it. He chose the former. Now 17 years later, the New Orleans predominantly African-American church has been called upon to help yet another Baptist church survive. Organized in 1984 as a satellite church of Edgewater Baptist Church in New Orleans, East Edgewater Baptist Church attracted Anglos in a predominantly white New Orleans neighborhood. As the years passed, racial transition occurred in the area, and the church decreased to a handful of members. Choosing to survive rather than close, the congregation contacted Luter to see if Franklin Avenue would have an interest in purchasing the 7.5-acre property. The members wanted to sell only to a church. After Luter and others from Franklin Avenue met with Joel Turner, pastor of the East Edgewater church at the time. The congregation voted to sell the property to Franklin Avenue, and the sale was … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists invited to submit nominees, resolutions

Louisiana Baptists have been invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration at the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention. Louisiana Baptists have been invited to submit names of nominees for service on state convention boards and committees and to submit resolutions for possible consideration at the 2003 Louisiana Baptist Convention. The LBC Committee on Committees is beginning work to nominate persons to serve on various state convention committees. Currently, 22 nominees are needed for service on committees on convention arrangements, credentials, Louisiana Baptist history, moral and social concerns, nominations, order of business and resolutions. Committee on Committees chair is Ken Fryer, minister of music at Milldale Baptist Church in Zachary. Also, the LBC Committee on Nominations is beginning work to fill vacancies on state boards. At this point, 18 nominees are needed to serve on the state executive board and as trustees of Louisiana College, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, the Louisiana Baptist Message, the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Retirement Center. The Committee on Nominations … [Read more...]

Conference to focus on helping churches do ‘whatever it takes’

Want to teach one’s community for Christ? Baptist leaders in three states want to help by passing on the key – doing whatever it takes. “Whatever It Takes ...” is set as a two-day conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe on Aug. 25-26. Co-sponsored by leaders of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas Baptist conventions, the purpose of the gathering is clear – to encourage church leaders to proclaim the gospel. Want to teach one’s community for Christ? Baptist leaders in three states want to help by passing on the key – doing whatever it takes. “Whatever It Takes ...” is set as a two-day conference at First Baptist Church of West Monroe on Aug. 25-26. Co-sponsored by leaders of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas Baptist conventions, the purpose of the gathering is clear – to encourage church leaders to proclaim the gospel. “We just want to encourage pastors and others to do whatever it takes to reach their communities for Jesus Christ,” said Scotty Sanders, minister of education at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. “We just want to challenge them and pass on some principles we have found helpful.” To that end, the two-day gathering features a variety of workshops, Sanders noted. Subject … [Read more...]