Do you ever look at the gas gauge?" I asked my wife as I looked down at the gas gauge needle that registered almost empty.   "Not until I hear it ring," she answered calmly. She had been driving and understood it is a man kind of thing to tell women how to operate machinery. "And it just rang for the first time." Do you ever look at the gas gauge?" I asked my wife as I looked down at the gas gauge needle that registered almost empty.   "Not until I hear it ring," she answered calmly. She had been driving and understood it is a man kind of thing to tell women how to operate machinery. "And it just rang for the first time."   We were in the middle of some woods and I told her how dangerous it is to start a trip out in the country without adequate fuel. I made a typically male big-deal out of it.   Later that day, I started home about 10:30 p.m. after a quick trip to Shreveport. After my lecture that morning to my wife, I check the gas gauge, which appeared okay. Not full, but okay when one is in a hurry.   It was okay until five miles north of Airport Road-the first sign of civilization coming into Alexandria on I-49-when the truck gave a major cough and quit, as … [Read more...]

Cooperative Program support by Southern Baptists continues to be one of the truly amazing stories of modern denominationalism. Contributions to the national Cooperative Program continue to increase in spite of national trends of decreasing gifts to the national offices of other denominations. Cooperative Program support by Southern Baptists continues to be one of the truly amazing stories of modern denominationalism. Contributions to the national Cooperative Program continue to increase in spite of national trends of decreasing gifts to the national offices of other denominations.   Denton Lotz, General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, in his June 2002 article in BWA News, says that denominational offices have experienced a "paradigm shift." "The earlier generation was willing to trust denominational headquarters to do mission . . . This has been a traditional way of giving."   But now, because of a shrinking globe, "local churches are sending mission trips (crews) all over the world . . . They have their own projects and sister relationships overseas." According to Lotz, their dollars follow their established mission relationships. "The result: less of the offering plate is going to … [Read more...]

Former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines is standing by his statements regarding Islam - with the support of other denominational leaders. Former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines is standing by his statements regarding Islam - with the support of other denominational leaders.   During the recent Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference, Vines described Muslim prophet Mohammed as a "demon-possessed pedophile" and suggested the religion teaches the destruction of non-Muslims.   The statement ignited a firestorm of criticism in some quarters.   Vines has stood by his statements, expressing love for Muslim believers while offering documentation for his views. However, he has declined to meet with Muslims in his area in order to discuss the matter.   Meanwhile, other convention leaders have voiced their support for Vines, pastor at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville.   SBC Executive Committee Morris Chapman strongly affirmed Vines’ character and his remarks about Mohammed. "We fully support his leadership among Southern Baptists and the evangelical community," he emphasized.   Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President … [Read more...]

It was in 1977 that Southern Baptists established Missions Service Corps as a way of funding missions in ways that would not have been possible under conventional funding models.   Twenty-five years and more than 7,600 volunteers later, the strategy has become one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s most effective tools for reaching North America with the gospel. It was in 1977 that Southern Baptists established Missions Service Corps as a way of funding missions in ways that would not have been possible under conventional funding models.   Twenty-five years and more than 7,600 volunteers later, the strategy has become one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s most effective tools for reaching North America with the gospel.   Earlier this month, that fact was celebrated during an anniversary Missions Service Corps luncheon in conjunction with the annual Southern Baptist Convention.   The luncheon also served as the kickoff of the MSC Future Fund, an endowment organizers say will help position Missions Service Corps to take advantage of strategic opportunities and provide emergency assistance for corps volunteers.   During the luncheon, North American Mission … [Read more...]

For the week of June 27, 2002 Potpourri • SULPHUR – First church: "Sweet Land of Liberty" dinner theatre; June 30, noon and 6:30 p.m.; July 1, 6:30 p.m.; $5 tickets, limited seating; for information, call (337) 527-5231; Donald W. Dukes, music minister; David Holder, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE – Stevendale church: The Dixie Echoes in concert; June 28, 7 p.m.; Michael J. LoBrutto, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT – Parkview church: Family Jubilee; July 6, 5-8 p.m.; music by Heartland Family Ministries, Jeremiah Coleman and Fourth Watch; free hot dogs/drinks; Mike Anderson, pastor.   • RAYVILLE – Woodlawn church: Testify in concert; July 14, 6 p.m.; J. Alan Miller, pastor.   • SWARTZ – First church: The Bennetts in concert; July 1, 7 p.m.; Step Martin, guest pastor; Collin Wimberly, pastor.   • SULPHUR – Olivet church: Testify in concert; July 5, 7 p.m.; nursery provided for three years and under; Don Walker, pastor.   • TROUT – Searcy church: Bible Conference; July 5-6, 7 p.m.; July 7, 10 and 11 a.m.; Jessie and James Norris, guest speakers; Lloyd Trisler, pastor.   • BOGALUSA – Superior Avenue church: Dinner ’n Show; June 29; dinner at 5:30 p.m.; Don … [Read more...]

Louisiana native and longtime Georgia Baptist pastor Nelson Price was honored recently with the opening of a facility named in his honor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   The 32-room Nelson L. Price Center for Urban Ministries is to be used in housing short-term missionaries. Louisiana native and longtime Georgia Baptist pastor Nelson Price was honored recently with the opening of a facility named in his honor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.   The 32-room Nelson L. Price Center for Urban Ministries is to be used in housing short-term missionaries.   Price’s family and friends were on hand to celebrate the dedication of the new dormitory built in response to an expanding MissionLab ministry, a program that matches the needs and abilities of senior adult, student, family and youth ministry groups with appropriate mission opportunities in the New Orleans area.   More than 1,800 youth and 500 senior adults are scheduled to participate in mission activities this summer and fall through the program, adding to the 2,000-plus youth and 132 seniors who have participated in the program’s inaugural years.   Before leaving his native state, Price … [Read more...]

Louisiana’s Mississippi Delta is known for its catfish, and the state’s Acteens recently used a celebration of this popular food to reach out to people for Christ.   Acteens from three churches manned a booth during a catfish festival in Winnsboro, painting faces, handing out free water and attaching prizes to "bait" children caught. The churches involved were Chase Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Crowville and First Baptist Church of Wisner. Louisiana’s Mississippi Delta is known for its catfish, and the state’s Acteens recently used a celebration of this popular food to reach out to people for Christ.   Acteens from three churches manned a booth during a catfish festival in Winnsboro, painting faces, handing out free water and attaching prizes to "bait" children caught. The churches involved were Chase Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Crowville and First Baptist Church of Wisner.   "Some people asked why we were giving out the free water, and that gave us an opportunity to tell them what we were doing," said Leigh Ann Ulmer, Acteens coordinator for the Northeast region of the state.   The activities that the Acteens participated in were part of a … [Read more...]

Intent on committing suicide by jumping off a bridge and taking their baby with them, a desperate Alabama couple drove to New Orleans.   Deciding first to feed their baby, so she at least would die with a full stomach, they stopped at the neighborhood grocery. Intent on committing suicide by jumping off a bridge and taking their baby with them, a desperate Alabama couple drove to New Orleans.   Deciding first to feed their baby, so she at least would die with a full stomach, they stopped at the neighborhood grocery.   Meanwhile, two seminary students also stopped at the store. Upon noticing the disheveled couple with the baby dressed only in a diaper, they decided to open their wallets and give the family all their money.   Sneaking up behind the overweight, barefoot man, Don Wilton rolled up more than $200 in bills and stuck them in the man’s back, telling him not to turn around.   With a gentle voice, he told the fearful man: "My friend, you don’t know who I am. But I want you to know that there is another man and I (in) here tonight who love the Lord Jesus Christ. He has done something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. Because of him, we just want to … [Read more...]

Just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, in a city that once had the highest homicide rate in the nation, an inner-city Baptist mission center has been working and witnessing.   When Chet and Michelle Cantrell began their ministry at the East St. Louis (Ill.) Christian Activity Center 14 years ago, 90 percent of the area youth were affiliated with gangs and 60 percent usually dropped out of school before the 10th grade. Just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, in a city that once had the highest homicide rate in the nation, an inner-city Baptist mission center has been working and witnessing.   When Chet and Michelle Cantrell began their ministry at the East St. Louis (Ill.) Christian Activity Center 14 years ago, 90 percent of the area youth were affiliated with gangs and 60 percent usually dropped out of school before the 10th grade.   Now in 2002, less than 5 percent of the youth are tied to gangs, and more than 90 percent have graduated or advanced to their next grade, the Cantrells say. In addition, more than 75 youth now attend college through the efforts of the Baptist mission.   And in an area where 57 percent of all the kids … [Read more...]

Debbie Morris offers a thought - " ‘Forgiveness’ is a beautiful word - until you are the one who has to forgive,"   Morris should know.   As a 16-year-old Louisiana youth, she was brutally raped by Robert Lee Willie, the prisoner whose life was chronicled in the 1995 movie, "Dead Man Walking." Debbie Morris offers a thought - " ‘Forgiveness’ is a beautiful word - until you are the one who has to forgive,"   Morris should know.   As a 16-year-old Louisiana youth, she was brutally raped by Robert Lee Willie, the prisoner whose life was chronicled in the 1995 movie, "Dead Man Walking."   Years later, Morris would chronicle her own story in her own book - "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking."   Earlier this month, she shared that story of anger, pain and forgiveness during the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting in St. Louis.   "Forgiveness is a difficult thing to do sometimes," acknowledged Morris, who lives with her family in Mandeville. "It takes courage. It takes faith."   Morris’s story begins when she and her teenage boyfriend, Mark, were kidnapped and taken to a remote area in south Alabama and … [Read more...]