Shortly after intruders nabbed Gene and Jean Phillips at their missionary residence in Africa, Christians around the world began praying for the veteran Southern Baptist missionary couple, then living in the small country of Lesotho. Shortly after intruders nabbed Gene and Jean Phillips at their missionary residence in Africa, Christians around the world began praying for the veteran Southern Baptist missionary couple, then living in the small country of Lesotho. It was the beginning of the Internet era, which helped news about their kidnapping to spread quickly throughout the world. And the Phillipses say the immediate, worldwide prayer effort culminated in their captors’ sudden decision not to kill the missionary couple but to release them unharmed in a remote area of Africa. Hours after they learned of the worldwide prayer chain on their behalf, the Phillipses were interviewed by a local law enforcement officer, who wrote in his police report: "They were not killed because of prayer." For Gene and Jean Phillips, the abduction was another entry into their diary of times when God literally plucked them from the jaws of devastation and refined them through the African fires blazing around them. "Someone asked … [Read more...]

Anyone who has had two children understands the mother’s dilemma.   Her church is presenting a Broadway musical with a religious message. The six-year-old is mesmerized by music and stage presentations. The four-year-old is not. Anyone who has had two children understands the mother’s dilemma.   Her church is presenting a Broadway musical with a religious message. The six-year-old is mesmerized by music and stage presentations. The four-year-old is not.   Wanting to encourage the older son’s love for the arts as well as provide a special bonding time with him, the mother buys tickets to the production. She buys only two tickets.   The husband understands and goes along. He will stay home with the younger son while Mother takes the older son out for the evening.   Explaining to the younger son why he will stay home while mother and older brother go out will not be so easy.   She could wait until the last minute to tell both children and that would cut down on the hassle time line. Still, she wants the older son to anticipate the evening. Anticipation enlarges the experience.   Monday, Mom puts her plan into action.   "Lane, you and I … [Read more...]

For the week of April 11, 2002 Potpourri • LAKE CHARLES - Trinity church: Carey Associational VBS clinic; April 23, 6-8:30 p.m.; for information call Tammy Gothrup at (337) 527-6882; Steve James, pastor. • RAYVILLE - Woodlawn church: Cooperative Program Celebration Day; April 21, 10:30 a.m.; Preston and Brenda West, missionaries to Honduras, guest speakers; Alan Miller, pastor. • JONESBORO - First church: Associational VBS clinic; April 19, 6-8 p.m.; Suzanne Brown, associational Vacation Bible School director. • FARMERVILLE - First church: Southwestern Singers in concert; April 24, 6:30 p.m.; Roger Johnson, pastor. • NATCHITOCHES - First church: Stage 6 in concert; April 20, 7 p.m.; $2 and a canned good admission fee; Clarence Powell, interim pastor. • LEESVILLE - First church: Greater Vision in concert: April 12, 7 p.m.; also Gospel Lights at 6 p.m.; $10 per ticket; Lanny Turner, minister of music; Mark Brumbaugh, pastor. • COOPER - Cooper church: Associational VBS clinic; April 13, 10 a.m. - noon; Donnis Poe, associational Vacation Bible School director; Allan Barnes, pastor. • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: Spring Bible Conference; April 29-30; Bill Tolar, T. W. Hunt and Steve James, guest speakers; … [Read more...]

Moving a church to a "real" prayer meeting concept is not easy, Chuck Pourciau acknowledges.   Indeed, there are several "musts" that should be observed, added Pourciau, pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. He outlined the steps during a seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Ruston. Moving a church to a "real" prayer meeting concept is not easy, Chuck Pourciau acknowledges.   Indeed, there are several "musts" that should be observed, added Pourciau, pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. He outlined the steps during a seminar at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference in Ruston.   During the seminar, Pourciau recounted his church’s move from a typical Wednesday night prayer meeting to a service focused on - and dominated by - prayer.   He urged leaders wishing to follow suit at their churches to:   • Be sure you want to do it.   "This is a level of spiritual warfare where satan will fight tooth and nail, ..." Pourciau explained. "Be sure you want to do it, ... because it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s the front lines of spiritual … [Read more...]

During a recent prayer seminar, Chuck Pourciau asked people to identify what activities usually dominate their Wednesday night prayer meetings.   Two people said more time is spent singing than anything else.   Nine people said their church spends the most time on receiving prayer requests.   Thirty people said Bible study or preaching takes up the largest portion of time. Editor’s Note: The following article is from a seminar presentation at the recent Louisiana Baptist Great Commission Prayer Conference. The Baptist Message will present additional articles from the conference in upcoming weeks.   During a recent prayer seminar, Chuck Pourciau asked people to identify what activities usually dominate their Wednesday night prayer meetings.   Two people said more time is spent singing than anything else.   Nine people said their church spends the most time on receiving prayer requests.   Thirty people said Bible study or preaching takes up the largest portion of time.   Only six people said prayer does.   "The patient is critically ill," said Pourciau, pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. "But that’s pretty … [Read more...]

One people group never will hear the good news of God’s love, even if a missionary knocks on their door.   These 30 million people worldwide never will hear because they are deaf. Isolated socially and immersed in a culture radically different from the hearing world, the deaf have little hope of even learning about Christ, much less understanding the gospel and receiving him as savior. One people group never will hear the good news of God’s love, even if a missionary knocks on their door.   These 30 million people worldwide never will hear because they are deaf. Isolated socially and immersed in a culture radically different from the hearing world, the deaf have little hope of even learning about Christ, much less understanding the gospel and receiving him as savior.   However, leaders from the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf and Southern Baptist International Mission Board want to change that fact.   They recently met to discuss ways to do so.   During the meeting, the leaders forged a partnership to direct more missionary outreach to deaf populations worldwide.   They also discussed possible creation of a center to prepare Southern … [Read more...]

The Middle East conflict has deep roots and hard-to-find answers The following reflections on the Middle East conflict are from a layperson’s perspective and certainly not that of a government diplomat or academic student of the Middle East. The following reflections on the Middle East conflict are from a layperson’s perspective and certainly not that of a government diplomat or academic student of the Middle East. There is absolutely no claim of any kind as an authority. I write simply as someone who has talked to people on both sides of the Jordan River - leaders of government and people on the street - during five trips to the Middle East, two of which were as a guest of the Israeli and Jordanian governments. With the unrest in Israel growing more and more violent, the following is presented in the hope that it will help readers gain some informal understanding of the conflict raging in the area that Jews and Christians call the Holy Land. Jordan and Israel 23 years ago My first trip to the Middle East was 23 years ago. Technically, Jordan and Israel were still at war, although the actual fighting had stopped, except for some border skirmishes, small guerilla raids and retaliatory strikes. Incredibly, … [Read more...]

For an antonym of peace, look at the land of the Prince of Peace. Hardly a place on earth exists where convulsive conflict rules more than in Palestine, the land that is now home of Israel and the Israeli occupied land of the Palestinians. For an antonym of peace, look at the land of the Prince of Peace. Hardly a place on earth exists where convulsive conflict rules more than in Palestine, the land that is now home of Israel and the Israeli occupied land of the Palestinians.   The Land of the Bible is filled with the stuff of ongoing, intense conflict - two distinctly different cultures, two languages, two religions, two heritages, two worldviews in one land to which both claim divine right. Millions of people on both sides are packed into a land less than 300 miles long and about 70 miles wide at its broadest point - much of the land too arid to sustain life. Within these very limited borders rest the holiest sites of Judaism, Christianity and two of the holiest sites of Islam.   The intensity of the two groups living in such a small area puts more and more pressure on the volatile situation. The only questions become how much will the pressure build before conflict erupts, where will it erupt … [Read more...]

Some ideologues keep public schools firmly in their cross hairs for severe criticism. According to the more severe critics, nothing good rests in the schools or can be said about them. Some critics apparently have broader agendas at work behind these criticisms, and others are sincerely concerned about legitimate problems of public education. Either way, their harsh negativism slams this basic institution of community life. Some ideologues keep public schools firmly in their cross hairs for severe criticism. According to the more severe critics, nothing good rests in the schools or can be said about them. Some critics apparently have broader agendas at work behind these criticisms, and others are sincerely concerned about legitimate problems of public education. Either way, their harsh negativism slams this basic institution of community life.   Acknowledging the shortcomings of public education should not, however, keep the general population, including Christians, from appreciating the significant work done in public schools by multitudes of people.   Thousands of people who work in the Louisiana public education system do so as what they believe is their major place of ministry. It is part … [Read more...]

Like 90 percent of the ministers in America, David Wallace uses electronic mail in his professional and personal life.   But for the new associate pastor at Montgomery Community Baptist church in Erlanger, Ky., this efficient method of communication will never replace face-to-face conversations. Like 90 percent of the ministers in America, David Wallace uses electronic mail in his professional and personal life.   But for the new associate pastor at Montgomery Community Baptist church in Erlanger, Ky., this efficient method of communication will never replace face-to-face conversations. "One of the frustrations I have with e-mail is if I have something sensitive to discuss with a church member, I’m afraid the printed word will not convey personal feelings," Wallace said.   "So, I will call someone or have lunch with them," he said. "In personal conversation, you can have all the color and depth that e-mail doesn’t. Being an authentic person requires human touch and being with other people. Jesus ministered through human touch and conversation. He did miracles by touch."   Wallace’s comments reflect one side of an ongoing discussion within religious and professional … [Read more...]