While New Orleanians rolled out the red carpet for the recent Super Bowl game, Baptists in the area focused on personal ministry and testimony for Jesus Christ   February got off to a busy start for New Orleans, as the city hosted the NFL Super Bowl game and conducted its annual Mardi Gras season. While New Orleanians rolled out the red carpet for the recent Super Bowl game, Baptists in the area focused on personal ministry and testimony for Jesus Christ   February got off to a busy start for New Orleans, as the city hosted the NFL Super Bowl game and conducted its annual Mardi Gras season.   Baptists were right in the thick of things - not to watch the game or attend parades but to share the good news of Jesus Christ and minister to the needs of those in the city.   Area Baptists and volunteers from elsewhere participated in various activities during the Super Bowl week, providing a witness of God’s love in the midst of the fanfare.   Some assisted in official efforts, which gave them opportunities to witness to fellow workers.   Others took the gospel to the streets of the French Quarter, passing our gospel materials and offering a word of personal … [Read more...]

Louisiana’s self-proclaimed anti-gambling governor once again has proven how disingenuous titles can be.   Recent news reports indicate Gov. Mike Foster has signed a compact with the Jena Band of Choctaws to allow the tribe to open a casino in the state. Louisiana’s self-proclaimed anti-gambling governor once again has proven how disingenuous titles can be.   Recent news reports indicate Gov. Mike Foster has signed a compact with the Jena Band of Choctaws to allow the tribe to open a casino in the state.   Additional news reports indicate the state’s fifth casino apparently will be located in Vinton, in the southwest corner of Louisiana.   The compact signed by Foster and the tribe still must be approved by the federal government, but that is not expected to be a problem. Once approved, the stage will be set for the fourth Indian-run casino in the state.   Other tribes already operate casinos in Marksville, Kinder and Charenton. Harrah’s operates a casino in New Orleans.   Throughout his campaigns for govenor, Foster has proclaimed himself as opposed to gambling. However, he repeatedly has acted in ways that have allowed the continuation and the … [Read more...]

What was scheduled originally as a dedication of Global Maritime Ministries’ new Maritime Ministry Center in Reserve became a note-burning service as well.   "The Lord seems to change things from the impossible to possible, because in God, all things are possible," Louisiana Baptist Convention Language Missions Director Elie Woerner said during the service. What was scheduled originally as a dedication of Global Maritime Ministries’ new Maritime Ministry Center in Reserve became a note-burning service as well.   "The Lord seems to change things from the impossible to possible, because in God, all things are possible," Louisiana Baptist Convention Language Missions Director Elie Woerner said during the service.   Global Maritime Ministries serves seafarers who sail into the Port of New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana from around the world. Started as a part-time ministry operating out of a residential home in 1963, Global Maritime Ministries has grown into a full-time, multi-staff, non-profit organization with a board of trustees.   Located only one-half mile from where ships dock at the Port of South Louisiana near Reserve, the converted Veterans of Foreign War … [Read more...]

For the week of February 14, 2002 Potpourri   • MINDEN - North Acres church: prayer conference; Feb. 16, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.; Jack Daniels, leader; Roy Strother, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Trinity Heights church: winter Bible conference; Feb. 17, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Feb. 18-20, 11:45 a.m. with meal to follow and 7 p.m.; John Phillips, Bible instructor; Billy W. Smith, evangelist; Billy J. Crosby, pastor.   • PINEVILLE - Louisiana College: Faith and Health Ministry presents "Reclaiming Your Health" conference; Feb. 23, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; to register or for information write: Louisiana College, Attn.: Cheryl Brown, P. O. Box 423, Pineville, LA 71359 or call (318) 487-7041; conference is free.   • FERRIDAY - First church: layman’s soul winning rally; Feb. 26; Buddy Day, conference leader; Wayne Jenkins, speaker; James Foster, music; reservations for fish fry by Feb. 18, call (318) 339-9974; Wayne Gray, pastor.   • EUNICE - Acadian center: "Let’s R.O.C.K.," Fellowship of Louisiana Baptist Secretaries annual conference; March 8-9; $50/per person, includes lodging and meals; $25/commuters; Sandra Sartor, guest speaker; for information or to register call (318) … [Read more...]

The president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board has written a letter to missionaries worldwide, asking them to sign an affirmation of the current "Baptist Faith and Message." The president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board has written a letter to missionaries worldwide, asking them to sign an affirmation of the current "Baptist Faith and Message."   In a letter dated Jan. 28, Jerry Rankin told missionaries that affirming the current Baptist Faith and Message would help the missions agency "move beyond a continuing and potentially damaging issue that could distract us from our mission task, unnecessarily create suspicion on the part of some and erode support of you and the (board)."   All International Mission Board missionaries are thoroughly screened on their beliefs, Rankin noted.   Indeed, for many years, they have been asked to sign a statement affirming the Baptist Faith and Message before they are appointed.   The board also has a longstanding policy that deals with missionaries whose teachings or practices contradict the confession of faith.   Nevertheless, there have been calls for missionaries to be required to affirm … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists sent 1,155 new missionaries overseas during 2001, a 28 percent increase from the previous high of 902 a couple of years earlier.   The new workers brought the total number of long-term missionaries on the field to more than 5,100, Southern Baptist International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin reported to trustees during their recent scheduled meeting. Southern Baptists sent 1,155 new missionaries overseas during 2001, a 28 percent increase from the previous high of 902 a couple of years earlier.   The new workers brought the total number of long-term missionaries on the field to more than 5,100, Southern Baptist International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin reported to trustees during their recent scheduled meeting.   In addition, the 1,155 total included 361 career and associate missionaries, the most ever appointed in one year.   Rankin also reported on volunteer work.   Though many short-term volunteers canceled their overseas projects after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the total number of volunteers for 2001 still totaled 33,700, surpassing the 31,000 who served in overseas missions projects in 2000, he said.   The … [Read more...]

In the darkness of the early morning, the van stops in front of the hotel. The driver walks at a determined clip toward the front door.   "You folks ready?"   We give a weak affirmative nod. I reach for my wife’s reassuring hand. In the darkness of the early morning, the van stops in front of the hotel. The driver walks at a determined clip toward the front door.   "You folks ready?"   We give a weak affirmative nod. I reach for my wife’s reassuring hand.   As the sun begins to share its light with the surrounding plateaus and mountains, the driver heads the van onto a bare parking lot and stops. The 10 of us file slowly out of the van. More excitement and reluctance.   Two men meet us and walk determinedly to the back of the trailer that has followed the van. They throw open the doors and there sits our challenge.   We pull the wicker basket of wicker baskets out of the trailer, and then a large bag. The three men begin assembling pieces of nylon and chromed metal and wicker. One man brings out two gasoline-powered fans and sets them loose to blow, blow, blow. The thin nylon fabric slowly begins coming to life.   Like a giant bag of … [Read more...]

In the darkness of the early morning, the van stops in front of the hotel. The driver walks at a determined clip toward the front door.   "You folks ready?"   We give a weak affirmative nod. I reach for my wife’s reassuring hand. In the darkness of the early morning, the van stops in front of the hotel. The driver walks at a determined clip toward the front door.   "You folks ready?"   We give a weak affirmative nod. I reach for my wife’s reassuring hand.   As the sun begins to share its light with the surrounding plateaus and mountains, the driver heads the van onto a bare parking lot and stops. The 10 of us file slowly out of the van. More excitement and reluctance.   Two men meet us and walk determinedly to the back of the trailer that has followed the van. They throw open the doors and there sits our challenge.   We pull the wicker basket of wicker baskets out of the trailer, and then a large bag. The three men begin assembling pieces of nylon and chromed metal and wicker. One man brings out two gasoline-powered fans and sets them loose to blow, blow, blow. The thin nylon fabric slowly begins coming to life.   Like a giant bag of … [Read more...]

A recent study - yes, another study - has revealed some remarkable insights into the differences in growing, declining and plateaued churches. The findings could surprise even the most ardent students of all the expounding on church growth characteristics and methods.   The study has been noted as outstanding by the Southern Baptist Research Fellowship, and received that group’s annual award as such. A recent study - yes, another study - has revealed some remarkable insights into the differences in growing, declining and plateaued churches. The findings could surprise even the most ardent students of all the expounding on church growth characteristics and methods.   The study has been noted as outstanding by the Southern Baptist Research Fellowship, and received that group’s annual award as such.   The study was conducted to determine definitive figures on the relationship of internal and external factors on growing, declining and plateaued churches. As researchers are wont to do, the person who conducted the research said "it was both." But there were fascinating caveats.   The study was conducted by Terri Stovall as a part of her work toward a Ph.D. in church … [Read more...]

Tom Anderson understands clearly the importance of Southern Baptist missions work among Native Ameri-cans.   He should - he is a product of it, coming to Christ as a 14-year-old boy at a Southern Baptist revival service in his Choctaw Indian village in southeastern Oklahoma. Tom Anderson understands clearly the importance of Southern Baptist missions work among Native Ameri-cans.   He should - he is a product of it, coming to Christ as a 14-year-old boy at a Southern Baptist revival service in his Choctaw Indian village in southeastern Oklahoma.   Now, Anderson has returned as a Southern Baptist North American missionary to southeastern Oklahoma - to share the gospel and plant churches among his native peoples.   The work has a number of challenges. Southeastern Oklahoma is home to more than 250,000 Native Americans, 98 percent of whom are unchurched. The Andersons minister among five Native American nations overall.   Anderson and his wife, Rhoda, put in a lot of legwork - literally. Whether it is going door-to-door in an apartment complex, prayer walking a neighborhood or driving 150 miles one way to preach and play the piano at a worship service, church … [Read more...]