Faith at work: Even in the midst of increased religious diversity in American life, more and more Christians are looking at the workplace as a logical place to impact the lives of others through the ministry and witness of the gospel   During a recent lunch hour, eight men and women sit around a conference table, reading the Gospel of John together. [Part 2 ] [ Part 3 ]   Faith at work: Even in the midst of increased religious diversity in American life, more and more Christians are looking at the workplace as a logical place to impact the lives of others through the ministry and witness of the gospel   During a recent lunch hour, eight men and women sit around a conference table, reading the Gospel of John together.   In between bites of sandwiches and sips of soda, they discuss the tale of the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight. From the many bookmarks and highlighted passages in their Bibles, it is clear the people in this group take faith seriously.   But this is not a Sunday School class. The participants in this Bible study are co-workers at a sheet-metal fabrication plant. The leader is company vice president.   Accu-Fab Inc. of Raleigh, … [Read more...]

One can blame the shrinking church and denominational dollar simply on the economy, unemployment, other religious groups pirating denominational giving, or several other apparent depleting elements. These play a part, but the bottom line truth is this: there are fewer tithers in our churches, and there are more churches choosing to keep a greater percentage of their money. One can blame the shrinking church and denominational dollar simply on the economy, unemployment, other religious groups pirating denominational giving, or several other apparent depleting elements. These play a part, but the bottom line truth is this: there are fewer tithers in our churches, and there are more churches choosing to keep a greater percentage of their money.   If a church does not teach, preach and practice Christian stewardship, it fails to address one of its members’ greatest needs. In a society flooded with materialism, how is the Christian to conduct his financial affairs to keep from being owned by his things? How is a person to handle his or her money in a way pleasing to God? If a church fails to address these matters regularly, it fails its members. Period. Certainly Jesus understood the perils of materialism … [Read more...]

For the week of June 19, 2003 To Iraq - a ‘gift of love’ A 2.4-million-pound "gift of love" is on its way to hungry Iraqi families, thanks to the generosity of Southern Baptists. Since April, churches from across the county have been filling 70-pound boxes with various staples to feed a family of five for about one month. Now, the packages have arrived at ports to be shipped overseas. "I can’t thank Southern Baptists enough, ..." said Jim Brown, director of world hunger and relief ministries at the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. "Everyone pitched in." Donors spent about $2 million filling these boxes, creating a mass of food exceeding the weight of more than 590 full-size trucks. The boxes are stamped with John 1:17 and a greeting from Southern Baptists . They will be delivered specifically to hungry families rather than being mass-distributed at a refugee camp. "This project will help aid workers build and sustain credible relationships with new Iraqi friends, relationships I believe God will honor and bless in his way and his time," Brown said. Churches still can contribute to the effort by sending gifts. Checks should be designated "World Hunger Fund" and made payable to the International Mission … [Read more...]

Well-publicized legal cases and advances in sciences are freshly stirring the waters of the abortion issue, as though the subject needed more stirring.   The most-publicized legal case now on the horizon is that of Laci Peterson who was nearly nine months pregnant when she was apparently murdered. Well-publicized legal cases and advances in sciences are freshly stirring the waters of the abortion issue, as though the subject needed more stirring.   The most-publicized legal case now on the horizon is that of Laci Peterson who was nearly nine months pregnant when she was apparently murdered. The prosecutor of the case has charged Laci Peterson’s husband Scott Peterson not only with her murder but with that of the almost full-term unborn son she was carrying. If Scott Peterson is convicted of his wife’s murder only, the maximum penalty is life in prison. If he is convicted of murdering the unborn son also, the death penalty is possible. The husband is in jail awaiting trial. California law says a fetus is viable - or able to live outside the womb - earlier than nine months and, therefore, legal grounds for charging Scott Peterson with double murder.   Implications of the case are … [Read more...]

The skies are a dreary gray - and the pelting rain is coming down like waterfalls.   However, for the family and friends of sailors stationed on the USS Harry S. Truman, it is the sunniest and happiest day they had seen in a while. The skies are a dreary gray - and the pelting rain is coming down like waterfalls.   However, for the family and friends of sailors stationed on the USS Harry S. Truman, it is the sunniest and happiest day they had seen in a while.   On Pier 14 at the Norfolk Naval Station, Laurie Hawks stands with her two girls, Katherine, 5, and Mary, 1. She and the 12,000 other people gathered for the event strain to see the first glimpses of the enormous aircraft carrier come into view.   Hawks’ husband, Gene, is a supply officer for the Truman. On this day, he was one of 5,000 men and women returning from the ship’s six-month deployment to the east Mediterranean and the war with Iraq. The day Laurie had been praying for - homecoming - finally has arrived.   After traveling more than 41,000 miles, flying more than 1,280 combat sorties and striking more than 588 targets, the men and women of the USS Truman stand in dress whites at the rails of … [Read more...]

Psst! Hey, pastor, have you doubled-checked your housing allowance expenses versus allocated amount lately?   Yes, season has just passed, and the last thing one wants to consider is that topic again. But this could be beneficial. Psst! Hey, pastor, have you doubled-checked your housing allowance expenses versus allocated amount lately?   Yes, season has just passed, and the last thing one wants to consider is that topic again. But this could be beneficial.   Indeed, for those who do not want to pay more taxes than necessary, now is a very good time for a review, said Randy Tompkins, director of the stewardship/Cooperative Program office for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "About halfway through the tax year is a good time to doublecheck the housing allowance expenses versus the housing allowance amount, if a minister has requested a housing allowance and the church has granted the housing allowance," Tompkins said. "Many people assume that once a housing allowance amount is established, it is set for the entire year.   "This is a false assumption."   Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines, ordained ministers are entitled to a housing allowance. … [Read more...]

The doors at Bayou Sorrel Baptist Church near Plaquemine never are locked.   "The church is always open - literally because the doors are never locked and spiritually because the church family’s minds and hearts are always open to fresh ideas from God," says Michael Ellerbe, Bayou Sorrel pastor. The doors at Bayou Sorrel Baptist Church near Plaquemine never are locked.   "The church is always open - literally because the doors are never locked and spiritually because the church family’s minds and hearts are always open to fresh ideas from God," says Michael Ellerbe, Bayou Sorrel pastor.   "The accessibility of the church physically is a mirror of the congregation’s mind-set," he notes. "Bayou Sorrel Baptist Church and its people are here, open and willing to be used by God to further his kingdom."   Located in the small, south Louisiana community of Bayou Sorrel, the church is surrounded by people from various backgrounds. Most Sundays, between 50 and 60 people gather for worship, an increase of 20 percent since Ellerbe and his wife came to the church in 2000.   Although Ellerbe says the church should not be growing in light of the community’s depressed … [Read more...]

For the week of June 19, 2003 Potpourri • WINNFIELD - New Jerusalem church: True Heart in concert; June 22, 6 p.m.; Russ Cooper, pastor.   • ALEXANDRIA - Baptist Temple church: Brothers Redeemed Quartet in concert; June 29, 6 p.m.; Bill Broadwater, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - Highland church: "America, We Must Not Forget" patriotic musical; June 29, 6:30 p.m.; Stan Taylor, minister of music; Skip Dean, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Foster Road church: Patriotic Rally; June 28, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Huey Moak, pastor.   • BAKER - First church: "America, We Must Not Forget" patriotic musical; June 28, 6 p.m. and June 29, 10:30 a.m.; Ralph G. Parks, minister of music; Dennis Allen, pastor.   • DEQUINCY - First church: Leonard Guillot, guest speaker; June 29, 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Duhon Boys, mini concert at 6:30 p.m.; Byron Comish, pastor.   • WEST MONROE - Ridge Avenue church: "Let Freedom Ring" special patriotic service; June 29, 11 a.m.; Grant Blakeney, minister of music/worship; David Maxwell, pastor.   • NATCHITOCHES - Westside church: Patriotic service with special music and special guest speaker, Lloyd Ponder; June 29, 11 a.m.; Ferrel Marr, … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist International Mission Board leaders have responded to a financial shortfall by announcing the elimination of 61 home office positions.   The personnel cuts include 37 current staff members and 24 vacant positions that will not be filled. Southern Baptist International Mission Board leaders have responded to a financial shortfall by announcing the elimination of 61 home office positions.   The personnel cuts include 37 current staff members and 24 vacant positions that will not be filled.   The action affects both part- and full-time workers, as well as management and support staff members.   News of the cutbacks come just after Southern Baptists closed the books on their 2002 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.   Although the offering set a record for overall receipts, the total still fell about $10 million short of its goal.   Leaders said the shortfall means long-term missionary appointments will be capped at 400 persons this year and 300 next year. The board appointed 412 such workers last year and anticipated naming about 500 more this year.   In addition to that limitation, the number of … [Read more...]

Research indicates most parents believe they bear responsibility for the spiritual training of their children - but most spend no time in a typical week doing so and instead rely on churches to fill that role.   The Barna Research Group reports that 85 percent of parents of children under 13 believe they are primarily responsible for teaching their children about spiritual matters, while 11 percent say their church has top responsibility and 1 percent say their school is most responsible. Research indicates most parents believe they bear responsibility for the spiritual training of their children - but most spend no time in a typical week doing so and instead rely on churches to fill that role.   The Barna Research Group reports that 85 percent of parents of children under 13 believe they are primarily responsible for teaching their children about spiritual matters, while 11 percent say their church has top responsibility and 1 percent say their school is most responsible.   However, at the same time, fewer than one of every 10 church families prays or reads the Bible together, Christian researcher George Barna notes. And fewer than one of every 20 families has a worship activity … [Read more...]