The sign at the church door read: "Confession: Thurs-days, 1-3 p.m." But this was not a Catholic parish - it was a Methodist church.   It may be a sign of the times. A growing number of Christians - including Protestants - are looking to confession as a spiritual practice that offers comfort and healing. The sign at the church door read: "Confession: Thurs-days, 1-3 p.m." But this was not a Catholic parish - it was a Methodist church.   It may be a sign of the times. A growing number of Christians - including Protestants - are looking to confession as a spiritual practice that offers comfort and healing.   "The tradition of confession fell on hard times ... but is today making a comeback," says Jim Forest, author of "Confession: Doorway to Forgiveness" (Orbis).   "Frequently, people will come to me asking for counseling or spiritual direction, but what they really want is to make confession," says Natalie Van Kirk of Southern Methodist University’s Graduate Program of Religious Studies.   Individual confession to a priest has long been a tradition in Catholic and Orthodox churches. But Protestant reformers of the 16th century largely threw the practice out, … [Read more...]

First, the good news - membership in Southern Baptist churches topped the 16 million mark last year, an all-time high.   Now, the more tempering news - the record high of 16,052,920 church members represents an increase of just 92,612 persons. That translates to a growth rate of about 0.6 percent. First, the good news - membership in Southern Baptist churches topped the 16 million mark last year, an all-time high.   Now, the more tempering news - the record high of 16,052,920 church members represents an increase of just 92,612 persons. That translates to a growth rate of about 0.6 percent.   For even more good news from the statistical front - the total number of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention grew last year to 42,334, an increase of 746 (1.8 percent).   However, for more tempering news as well - the number of church-type missions in the convention dropped to 4,933, which represents a decline of 310 (5.9 percent) from the previous year.   And for even another shot of not-so-good totals - baptisms declined last year to 395,930, a drop of 18,727 (4.5 percent). The decline ends four consecutive years of baptisms totals more than … [Read more...]

Matt is a genuinely nice 12-year-old. Polite, lightly shy, a smile easily creeps across his face.   He is a strapping, Norman Rockwell all American kid. He loves sports and is a standout in all them he plays–basketball, football, soccer, baseball. Matt is a genuinely nice 12-year-old. Polite, lightly shy, a smile easily creeps across his face.   He is a strapping, Norman Rockwell all American kid. He loves sports and is a standout in all them he plays–basketball, football, soccer, baseball.   No one ever told Matt that his slight limp caused by a significantly pigeon-toed right foot is supposed to keep him from being a better than average player. He has been playing sports since he was a tot and his foot did not deter him then, and it does not now. Matt apparently does not think about it.   Well, this year he entered the age where kids get to be more like kids, which means they can be cruel as well as engaging. Kids tend to deal with the infirmities of others with occasional cruelness. It must be if kids can make fun of others with even perceived slight abnormalities, they are not as frightened by them, and may feel less vulnerable to experiencing them.   Anyway, … [Read more...]

For the week of May 2, 2002 Potpourri   • BENTLEY - Bentley church: Lil’ Joe Poisso in concert; May 4, 10 a.m.; hamburger lunch for $5 donation from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; bake auction at 12 p.m.; Paul Daily’s Wild Horse Ministries at 1 p.m; for information, call Helen Nichols at (318) 899-7585.   • HORNBECK - First church: Associational singles fellowship; May 4, 6:30 p.m.; bring a covered dish and a dessert; Jerry Key, pastor.   • HOUMA - Christ church: Gospel singing and deacon sponsored fish fry; May 11, 5 p.m.; community invited; John C. Baye, Jr., pastor.   • ZACHARY - Milldale church: Teen retreat; June 17-20; ages 13-18; $125 per person; Bill Britt, camp evangelist; Dan Spencer, Bible teacher/worship leader; Randy Spurgeon, recreation director; Mike Loveday, camp director; for information, call (225) 654-8168 or (225) 654-5065 or visit web site at www.milldale.org; Jimmy Robertson, pastor.   • BATON ROUGE - Istrouma church: NewSong in concert; May 12, 6:30 p.m.; Forrest Pollock, pastor.   • BENTON - Cypress church: Vacation Bible School clinic; May 16, 6:30 p.m.; Glenda Greer, associational VBS director; Bob Utley, pastor.   • EUNICE - Acadian … [Read more...]

When Susie Harville has a birthday, all her fellow members at First Baptist Church of Doyline celebrate.   And why not - on her most recent birthday, "Miss Susie" turned 108.   Harville herself attended the April 6 church celebration for her birthday. The congregation has been holding a birthday celebration for Harville since 1994, when the longtime member turned 100. When Susie Harville has a birthday, all her fellow members at First Baptist Church of Doyline celebrate.   And why not - on her most recent birthday, "Miss Susie" turned 108.   Harville herself attended the April 6 church celebration for her birthday. The congregation has been holding a birthday celebration for Harville since 1994, when the longtime member turned 100.   "Many would assume she (Harville) was brought to the church from a nursing home, but they would be mistaken," explains Steven Kelly, pastor of the Doyline congregation. "Others would determine that she must have arrived in a wheelchair, but that would be silly for a woman with two good legs.   "In fact, Miss Susie’s arrival on the church grounds is not a big deal to the members at First Baptist Church. Since September, … [Read more...]

Two-and-a-half years ago, Nicholls State University Baptist Collegiate minister Tim LaFleur identified a problem - more than12,000 African-Americans lived within a five-mile radius of the Thibodaux campus with no church for that ethnic group. Two-and-a-half years ago, Nicholls State University Baptist Collegiate minister Tim LaFleur identified a problem - more than12,000 African-Americans lived within a five-mile radius of the Thibodaux campus with no church for that ethnic group.   While LaFleur was pondering the best way to reach the large group, then-Director of University Police Al Carter was holding a Bible study on Wednesday nights on the campus for the African-American students. Carter, now serving as deputy staff lieutenant for the LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Department, started the Bible study with just five students, but it grew to nearly 60 attending each week.   "It has been very strange how it all happened," Carter says. "We didn’t even have a musician at first, as all the singing was a capella. It’s been a blessing."   LaFleur and Jim Duck, pastor at University Baptist Church in Thibodaux, began praying about the situation. They approached Carter about starting a … [Read more...]

Almost certainly, members of Christ Baptist Church in Houma and Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church in Theriot have sung "I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God" on occasion.   However, they probably never have sung it on a more meaningful occasion than the one celebrated late last month.   They sang it then to close a joint service between the two churches and other congregations in the area. Almost certainly, members of Christ Baptist Church in Houma and Bayou DuLarge Baptist Church in Theriot have sung "I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God" on occasion.   However, they probably never have sung it on a more meaningful occasion than the one celebrated late last month.   They sang it then to close a joint service between the two churches and other congregations in the area.   While that might not make for an unusual occasion in most instances, the April 26 joint service at Christ Baptist Church definitely was not a "most" instance.   It was the first time the two estranged congregations had come together in seven years.   Indeed, the recent "reconciliation service" ended a sometimes bitter dispute, dating to when Bayou DuLarge was a … [Read more...]

His black hair is slicked back, and he is wearing the latest clothes, with a leather necklace tied tight around his neck.   By all appearances, one never would know this teenager is from noble descent, that future service to his people is not a question but totally expected of him. His black hair is slicked back, and he is wearing the latest clothes, with a leather necklace tied tight around his neck.   By all appearances, one never would know this teenager is from noble descent, that future service to his people is not a question but totally expected of him.   The youth, Agoumoulou, belongs to a group of people who roam across the Sahara desert in camel caravans, a people known as the Tuareg. In the old days, these people transported everything from salt to slaves. But due to drought and hard times, the Tuareg have moved from their desert dwellings closer to the villages in order to find food and work. (See accompanying article)   Agoumoulou’s family is no different. At one time, they owned slaves to do the manual labor. Now, they do it themselves in the privacy of a courtyard - so no one will see.   After all, Agoumoulou comes from a long line of … [Read more...]

In West Africa, a nomadic, unreached people group struggles through changing circumstances and fights just to survive.   They bear an ominous name - Tuareg.   It literally means "abandoned by God." In West Africa, a nomadic, unreached people group struggles through changing circumstances and fights just to survive.   They bear an ominous name - Tuareg.   It literally means "abandoned by God."   However, this month, Southern Baptists are asking God to help the Tuareg people understand he really does love them. The group is the focus of the annual Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization, scheduled for May 19.   All in all, 99.9 percent of the Tuareg do not know the love and forgiveness of God. Indeed, the vast majority of them never have even heard the good news of salvation in Jesus.   "Tuareg" does not define just one ethnic group. It identifies the many people - Arabs, Berbers and Bellas - who share a common history and speak a common language, Tamashek.   The Tuareg are estimated to number from 500,000 to 3 million, living in countries such as Algeria, Libya, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Tuareg camel caravans played … [Read more...]

David P. Gushee’s well-presented thoughts should stop any thinking Christ dead in his or her tracks: "When scholars write the history of the late 20th century Western world, the major story may well be our systematic and unjust sacrificing of the needs, interests and rights of children on the altar of the needs, interests and (supposedly more important) rights of adults." David P. Gushee’s well-presented thoughts should stop any thinking Christ dead in his or her tracks: "When scholars write the history of the late 20th century Western world, the major story may well be our systematic and unjust sacrificing of the needs, interests and rights of children on the altar of the needs, interests and (supposedly more important) rights of adults."   Gushee, the Graves Associate Professor of Moral Philosophy and senior fellow with the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Christian Leadership at Union University, Jackson, Tenn., claims that "when push comes to shove when the interests and demands of adults clash with those of children with alarming frequency we choose the interests of adults."   Gushee presses his point with several examples. He begins by pointing to abortion on demand. He says the 1973 Roe v. … [Read more...]