The farmer walked the visitor through the field that seemed to stretch all the way to the horizon.   He talked as they walked, explaining his planting and growing process. Eventually, he stopped to demonstrate how one could tell a crop was ready. The farmer walked the visitor through the field that seemed to stretch all the way to the horizon.   He talked as they walked, explaining his planting and growing process. Eventually, he stopped to demonstrate how one could tell a crop was ready.   "Is this crop ready?" the visitor asked.   "Sure is," the farmer replied.   "So, when you planning to pick it?" the visitor questioned.   "Soon as I get help," the farmer said.   Some tasks simply are too big for one person to undertake alone.   They take help.   Harvesting a field is a task like that.   So is reaching a state with the gospel.   Louisiana Baptist leaders understand that. They know that any hope of changing the face of Louisiana for Jesus Christ will take a lot of work - and a lot of workers.   They also understand that the time has come for that work to be done.   "We have … [Read more...]

For the week of September 12, 2002 Potpourri • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: Senior adult retreat; Sept. 23, 9 a.m. - Sept. 24; $45/full time lodgers, $25/two day commuter, $15/one day commuter; Lindsey Burns and Bill Thorn, guest speakers; to pre-register, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   • LONGVILLE - First church: Chosen in concert; Sept. 22, 6 p.m.; Stuart Graves, pastor.   • FERRIDAY - First church: Team Ministry 2002 simulcast featuring John C. Maxwell, Bill Hybels and Max Lucado; Sept 21, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; $49 per ticket; for information, call (318) 757-4524; Wayne Gray, pastor.   • LAKE CHARLES - First church: "The On Mission Life Workshop," sponsored by Carey Association; Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Frank Perdichizzi, guest speaker; registration deadline Sept. 15; to register, call (337) 474-1865; J. P. Miles, director of missions; John Paul White, pastor.   • HAMMOND - North Shore association office: Leadership Roundtable seminar; Sept. 19, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; seminar title "If You Want to Know the Health of a Church, Put a Thermometer in the Mouth of the Leader," Reggie Ogea and Steve Echols, seminar leaders; to register, call (225) 567-5086 by … [Read more...]

Despite the admonition of some that September 11, 2001, events were a spiritual wake-up call for the United States, most Americans have not taken notice, a new study indicates.   Indeed, in the year since the terrorist attacks on the country, the religious beliefs and practices of American adults have not changed, a recently-released Barna Research Group poll shows. Despite the admonition of some that September 11, 2001, events were a spiritual wake-up call for the United States, most Americans have not taken notice, a new study indicates.   Indeed, in the year since the terrorist attacks on the country, the religious beliefs and practices of American adults have not changed, a recently-released Barna Research Group poll shows.   "I was among those who fully expected to see an intense spiritual reaction to the terrorist attacks," said George Barna, founder of the Christian research organization. "The fact that we saw no lasting impact from the most significant act of war against our country on our own soil says something about the spiritual complacency of the American public."   It also says something about the nation’s churches, the poll suggests.   The survey … [Read more...]

What does God know, and when does God know it? That is the question of late in evangelical circles as scholars debate a view known as open theism.   Traditional Christian theology says God is sovereign and omniscient - having perfect knowledge of all things. At the same time, humans have free will, setting up a classic paradox - if God already knows what one is going to decide to do, does one really have freedom of choice? What does God know, and when does God know it? That is the question of late in evangelical circles as scholars debate a view known as open theism.   Traditional Christian theology says God is sovereign and omniscient - having perfect knowledge of all things. At the same time, humans have free will, setting up a classic paradox - if God already knows what one is going to decide to do, does one really have freedom of choice?   Within that paradox, open theists take another approach. They say God does not know exact details of the future, because it will be shaped by human decisions. Thus, the future is "open," rather than predetermined.   The debate has percolated in the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1999, messengers passed a resolution affirming … [Read more...]

For the week of September 19, 2002 Persecuting countries For the first time, North Korea has replaced Saudi Arabia as the country where Christians are most severely persecuted, the Open Doors’ "World Watch List" indicates. The list is released twice each year and ranks countries according to the level of persecution Christians face for following Jesus Christ. For years, Saudi Arabia had held the top spot on the list. However, growing reports of severe oppression in North Korea have confirmed that the communist dictatorship of Kim Jong Il is intent on eradicating all belief systems other than the worship of Kim himself and his deceased father, Kim Il Sung. Both father and son have an ongoing record of attempting to purge the land of Christians. Nevertheless, the church has survived in North Korea. Christian refugees escaping North Korea’s famine have told of small house churches located in the country. The rest of the top 10 on the watch list includes Laos (third), Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia. Six of the countries are governed by Islamic regimes, three are communist and one is primarily Buddhist. Influence of mothers Mothers may have more influence than they think … [Read more...]

An exposed bulb dangles from the ceiling by a black wire and throws its harsh light around the cramped cinder-block room.   Tattooed bodies crowd the space or stare in past the heavy steel door. This cell’s location is deep within the bowels of a Honduran prison. All of the young men present are gang members, and most are killers or rapists - or both.   At the center of this sea of inked flesh sits Amy Johnson, a perfectly-postured, fair-complected redhead. Her soft voice forces the prisoners to lean in to hear her. She smiles and looks at them with her deep-penetrating brown eyes. An exposed bulb dangles from the ceiling by a black wire and throws its harsh light around the cramped cinder-block room.   Tattooed bodies crowd the space or stare in past the heavy steel door. This cell’s location is deep within the bowels of a Honduran prison. All of the young men present are gang members, and most are killers or rapists - or both.   At the center of this sea of inked flesh sits Amy Johnson, a perfectly-postured, fair-complected redhead. Her soft voice forces the prisoners to lean in to hear her. She smiles and looks at them with her deep-penetrating brown … [Read more...]

A Louisiana Baptist study committee has unanimously voted to rescind its earlier recommendation for local associations to assume total control of directors of missions.   "After discussion, we just felt like it was the best thing to do," explained Paul Roney, chair of the committee and pastor at Riverview Baptist Church in Alexandria. A Louisiana Baptist study committee has unanimously voted to rescind its earlier recommendation for local associations to assume total control of directors of missions.   "After discussion, we just felt like it was the best thing to do," explained Paul Roney, chair of the committee and pastor at Riverview Baptist Church in Alexandria.   The decision comes after weeks of discussion among Louisiana Baptists regarding the proposal. The committee had released its original recommendation in May to allow for input.   "We got a lot of feedback," Roney said. "I don’t think the feedback we got was totally representive of the convention, but it did give us some food for thought. I still feel like we did the right thing by releasing it the way we did in May."   Under its current system, the state convention works with an association in … [Read more...]

Ten years ago Terri Brown discovered one of her sons, who lives out of state, was a homosexual.   While bitterness set in at first, she says God soon laid on her heart a ministry to reach the homosexual community. "In 1994, I surrendered my life back to the Lord," Brown explains. "In 1995, I heard this call from the Lord, and it scared me to death."   At the same time, Carol Hunter was seeking counseling because she struggled with "homosexual temptations." Ten years ago Terri Brown discovered one of her sons, who lives out of state, was a homosexual.   While bitterness set in at first, she says God soon laid on her heart a ministry to reach the homosexual community. "In 1994, I surrendered my life back to the Lord," Brown explains. "In 1995, I heard this call from the Lord, and it scared me to death."   At the same time, Carol Hunter was seeking counseling because she struggled with "homosexual temptations."   Brown and Hunter attended the same meeting at one point, where they discovered they shared a passion to reach the homosexual community.   That meeting led to the Master’s Design, a ministry "born out of a desire to see God’s truth about … [Read more...]

For the week of September 19, 2002 Potpourri   • JENA - Fellowship church: The Galloways in concert; Sept. 26, 7 p.m.; Randy Ray, pastor.   • RUSTON - Temple church: Cynthia Clawson and Bruce Greer in concert; Sept. 22, 6 p.m.; Jon Stubblefield, interim pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Stevendale church: Toney Brothers in concert; Sept. 20, 7 p.m.; Michael J. LoBrutto, pastor.   • MONROE - North Monroe church: John Yates, Christian ventriloquist; Sept. 29; appearing at youth rally, 9-9:20 a.m.; 10-10:10 a.m. worship service; 10:10-11 a.m. children’s church and at 6 p.m.; Bill H. Dye, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Emmanuel church: "The Shreveport Passion Play," an outdoor drama; Sept. 20-22, 8 p.m.; free; for ticket information, call (318) 925-9534; Paul DeRousse, minister of music/play director; Bill Stowell, pastor.   • FARMERVILLE - Bethel Hispanic Mission: Volunteers needed for construction of new sanctuary; beginning Oct. 7; some RV hookups available; noon meal provided; call (318) 368-0690 or (318) 368-5225; Miguel Barrios, pastor.   • KEITHVILLE - North Keithville church: Gospel singing; Sept. 27, 7 p.m.; Robert Tillman, pastor.   • … [Read more...]

Point, click, point and click ... and then preach. More and more ministers are using Microsoft PowerPoint to infuse long sermons with multimedia moxie.   "It’s what Jesus would do today; he’d be using media because he was a cutting-edge communicator," said Tim Eason, a self-proclaimed "media missionary" who trains ministers and church members to use PowerPoint computer software and other media in worship services. Point, click, point and click ... and then preach. More and more ministers are using Microsoft PowerPoint to infuse long sermons with multimedia moxie.   "It’s what Jesus would do today; he’d be using media because he was a cutting-edge communicator," said Tim Eason, a self-proclaimed "media missionary" who trains ministers and church members to use PowerPoint computer software and other media in worship services.   Initially released in 1987 for businesses to design graphic-oriented presentations, PowerPoint is beginning to take hold in churches across America - and increasingly to accompany sermons.   The evidence is overwhelming. Just type in "PowerPoint sermons" on Google or any other Web search engine and one will find a host of sites, many of which are … [Read more...]