Celebrating what was hailed as "a successful conclusion to a 25-year struggle," Tom Hebert Road Mission became Tom Hebert Road Baptist Church the last month of 2001. Celebrating what was hailed as "a successful conclusion to a 25-year struggle," Tom Hebert Road Mission became Tom Hebert Road Baptist Church the last month of 2001.   The south Lake Charles congregation that started as a mission in 1979 "has experienced many low points," according to observers. Still, the commitment of one lady, its sponsoring church, the state missions division "and especially the blessings of God" finally birthed a new and flourishing church.   When Chris Fuselier became mission pastor three and one-half years ago, attendance was "about eight in Sunday School and 15 in worship," he recalls. "They were meeting only in the education building because they could not afford to pay the utilities if they met in the auditorium."   But that was by no means the lowest point in the mission’s history. When Ed Simmons became pastor of Sale Street Baptist Church, the mission’s sponsoring church, he met with the mission congregation. First Baptist Church of Maplewood co-sponsored the mission in its early days but … [Read more...]

For the week of January 3, 2002 Potpourri • OAK GROVE - First church: a dinner theatre,"Catacombs," presented by the youth creative arts team; Jan. 26-27, 6:30 p.m.; and Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m.; tickets $5.00, includes meal/theatre; limited seating; for more information call (318) 428-2583; James Parker, pastor. • BETHANY - Camp Bethany: youth winter retreat; Jan. 19-20; Troy Terrell, speaker; Paul Stagges, music; cost is $50.00; for more information call (318) 938-1221; Warren Jackson, director; Robert Cole, camp manager. Retirements • MANSFIELD - First church: William T. Crosby retired as of Dec. 31, 2001, after 23 and one-half years of service. He has established a storefront ministry, a prayer ministry, a television ministry and served on the executive board of the SBC and LBC. Ordinations • LEESVILLE - Calvary church: Darrell B. Willis to gospel ministry; T. J. Crosby, pastor. • MONROE - Parkview church: Chris Hudson to deacon ministry; Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m.; Lee McGlone, pastor. Ministers Needed • MANSFIELD - First church: full-time pastor; send resumes to: Mansfield First Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, 1710 McArthur Dr., Mansfield, LA 71052. Available • NEW ORLEANS - Kevin Richard; … [Read more...]

As the United States continues its fight against terrorism, some observers are expressing caution that they not sacrifice religious freedom in the process.   Meanwhile, an administration official has insisted the United States has not turned "a blind eye" to religious persecution during its fight against terrorism. As the United States continues its fight against terrorism, some observers are expressing caution that they not sacrifice religious freedom in the process.   Meanwhile, an administration official has insisted the United States has not turned "a blind eye" to religious persecution during its fight against terrorism.   Late last year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom asked President George Bush to heed religious freedom concerns as he worked to fight terrorism and to establish a new government in Afghanistan.   "The commission believes strongly that the United States needs to be laying the groundwork now for a future Afghanistan that respects the rights of all persons - including the right to freedom of religion and belief - and strengthens elements of religious tolerance," the letter urges.   Indeed, many of the American allies … [Read more...]

Mark Wingfield, Texas Baptist Standard   Evil is making a comeback in an America jarred from complacency by Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.   Once considered passé by many mainstream Christians, fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil are now showing up not only in churches, but also in front pages and television talk shows. Evil is making a comeback in an America jarred from complacency by Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.   Once considered passé by many mainstream Christians, fundamental questions about the nature of good and evil are now showing up not only in churches, but also in front pages and television talk shows.   Recent events have renewed talk about cosmic evil, a problem that has confounded theologians for centuries but which some say has become neglected in modern society’s "I’m OK, you’re OK" philosophy.   "I see this in one tragic way as the vindication of the Christian position on the nature of human beings," says Steven Davis, professor of philosophy at Claremont-McKenna College in California.   Sept. 11 proved "a real wakeup call for educated people around the world," the Presbyterian professor says. "A lot of educated and … [Read more...]

Pasqual Quispe rises early and walks to the park near his house in La Paz, Bolivia.   He waits there with dozens of men, hoping one of the passing trucks will hire him for the day. Jobs vary, when he lands one. Most days, he returns home unemployed. Pasqual Quispe rises early and walks to the park near his house in La Paz, Bolivia.   He waits there with dozens of men, hoping one of the passing trucks will hire him for the day. Jobs vary, when he lands one. Most days, he returns home unemployed.   His wife, Justina, leaves home shortly after 5 a.m. She takes a bus across town to buy butchered chickens and various beef cuts. She returns by 7 a.m. to a tiny booth in a market to sell the meats.   After a short break in early afternoon, she works until 9 p.m. She eats, goes to bed, and repeats the grind the next day.   Every day, living is hand to mouth. It is faithfully hoping for daily bread.   "It is very difficult because we make little money, and in the afternoon, we hope we will have food to eat for supper," Quispe says. "We trust in God that he will provide, and he always seems to."   It’s a hard life - a sacrificial life - the Quispes … [Read more...]

Sure wish I could have written that firsthand. Harry Lucenay was pastor of First Baptist, Longview, Texas, when he wrote a column recounting what he heard Charles Plumb say in a speech.   Plumb was a Navy pilot who flew 75 combat missions over Vietnam. On that 75th mission, his plane had the severe misfortune to run into a surface-to-air missile. Sure wish I could have written that firsthand. Harry Lucenay was pastor of First Baptist, Longview, Texas, when he wrote a column recounting what he heard Charles Plumb say in a speech.   Plumb was a Navy pilot who flew 75 combat missions over Vietnam. On that 75th mission, his plane had the severe misfortune to run into a surface-to-air missile. Not much of the plane was left to fly after that encounter, so Plumb decided to part company with the plane and try his parachute for a safer ride to terra firma.   The parachute worked fine, but the reception committee he met upon his arrival on the ground could have been nicer.   The committee was composed of enemy soldiers who imprisoned Plumb until the end of the war.   Plumb was one of the fortunate ones who were released by their captors. He returned home, but never … [Read more...]

For the week of January 10, 2002 Briefs 1-10 World of Religion Christmas care package Students involved with the Baptist Campus Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary sent a Christmas care package to Southern Baptist missionaries in Kenya as part of an effort to see Christmas from a more global perspective. At the beginning of the fall semester, Ministry Director Leslie Parvin encouraged students to pray for a different unreached people group each month. They spent the month of September praying for the Gogo people of Tanzania. In November, Parvin learned only two Southern Baptist missionaries are working with the Gogo and was inspired to have her students share Christmas encouragement to them through a care package. Missionaries Olan and Lynn Burrow have served in southern Africa for the past 25 years and are currently living in Kenya. They have spent a large portion of that time investing in the Gogo, a previously unreached people group. For Christmas, seminary students sent a care package of gum, candy, ornaments, a daily devotion guide, Scripture cards and hand-written letters of encouragement. The seminary began Baptist Campus Ministry work last August in partnership with the Louisiana … [Read more...]

Four times a week in a sparse room not far from the Duke University campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., a handful of people sit in a circle and pray for peace.   They pray for Americans and others killed Sept. 11.   They pray for Afghanistan’s children, many of whom are starving. Four times a week in a sparse room not far from the Duke University campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., a handful of people sit in a circle and pray for peace.   They pray for Americans and others killed Sept. 11.   They pray for Afghanistan’s children, many of whom are starving.   And, quietly, in moments of silence, they pray for Osama bin Laden and the Taliban - convinced that as Christians they must pray for their persecutors.   And forgive them.   That the group is so small and its prayers for the enemy so private is evidence of how hard it is to broach the issue of forgiveness, much less to put it into practice.   Although forgiveness is a central tenet of every major faith, clerics and theologians say they need to do more to teach habits that would help individuals let go of hatreds large and small and move toward reconciliation.   "That’s one of the … [Read more...]

When Heather Mercer first went to Afghanistan in 1998, she was forced to evacuate because of civil unrest.   Still, she was there long enough to fall in love with the Afghan people, she says. Thus, following college graduation and two years of additional training, Mercer returned to Afghanistan. When Heather Mercer first went to Afghanistan in 1998, she was forced to evacuate because of civil unrest.   Still, she was there long enough to fall in love with the Afghan people, she says. Thus, following college graduation and two years of additional training, Mercer returned to Afghanistan.   She said her goal was to meet the practical needs of the people and serve them in everyday ways. If and when relationships were established, she then would share what the Lord had done in her life. "The needs of the people were overwhelming," Mercer adds.   The aid group Mercer joined up with in Afghanistan worked in simple ways - passing out food and medicine, praying for the sick, helping people find jobs.   It was those interactions that landed Mercer and several others in prison in early August, accused by the ruling Taliban regime of unlawfully sharing the … [Read more...]

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian faith is forgiveness - what it means, when it should be practiced, how it can be accomplished.   And yet, forgiveness is at the very heart of the faith. It is through divine forgiveness that one is delivered from sin and welcomed to new life. Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian faith is forgiveness - what it means, when it should be practiced, how it can be accomplished.   And yet, forgiveness is at the very heart of the faith. It is through divine forgiveness that one is delivered from sin and welcomed to new life.   It is through a life of practiced forgiveness that one is supposed to communicate that new life - and pass it on to others.   "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," a key line in the oft-cited Lord’s Prayer reads.   The line makes it clear - for the Christian believer, forgiveness is intended to be a two-way street.   One receives. Then, one gives.   So, how is the work of forgiveness going these days?   Not as well as was intended, a recently-released poll indicates.   On one hand, the University of Michigan … [Read more...]