During their annual state celebration, Louisiana Baptist young people were challenged to focus on God - and God alone   The reality of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States - and the reality of God’s call to a life of total faith were brought home to thousands of Louisiana Baptist youth last month. During their annual state celebration, Louisiana Baptist young people were challenged to focus on God - and God alone   The reality of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States - and the reality of God’s call to a life of total faith were brought home to thousands of Louisiana Baptist youth last month.   High school senior Freeman Field told young people attending the annual Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Celebration how he watched the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York from his school three blocks away.   In turn, speaker James Darby of Prairieville reminded youth that in such an uncertain world, only one thing matters.   "The Word of God - it’s time we get to know it, ..." he emphasized in one of his addresses at the annual conference in Alexandria. "Heaven and earth are going to pass away, and the only thing that’s … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Message trustees voted overwhelmingly to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message last week.   Trustees voted 10-1 to affirm the statement of belief, adopted last year by the Southern Baptist Convention. Louisiana Baptist Message trustees voted overwhelmingly to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message last week.   Trustees voted 10-1 to affirm the statement of belief, adopted last year by the Southern Baptist Convention.   The 2000 statement has been a source of debate, with some objecting to changes that were made from the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message.   Nevertheless, many state conventions have followed the Southern Baptist Convention’s lead on the matter.   Indeed, Louisiana Baptists affirmed the 2000 document as their convention statement of faith during last year’s annual meeting. Messengers affirmed the 2000 document on a vote of 1,112 (56.4 percent) to 860 (43.6 percent).   The Baptist Message vote was not that close, as trustees dealt with the issue during a regularly scheduled meeting that featured routine business.   Initially, Glenn Price of DeQuincy sought to amend a covenant statement adopted by Baptist … [Read more...]

For the week of December 13, 2001 Anniversaries • LIVONIA - First church: Don Perkins, ten years as pastor.   • JONESVILLE - Utility church: James Foster five years as pastor. Ordinations • CHOUDRANT - New Hope church: John Allen to deacon’s ministry; Dwayne L. Monk, pastor. Retirements • MANSFIELD - First church: William T. Crosby retiring as pastor after 23 years; effective Dec. 31. Ministers Needed • EROS - Clark Springs church: pastor; send resume to 139 Clark Springs Road, Eros, LA 71238-7215; Attn: A. Foster or J. Wood.   • EROS - Oak Grove church: music director; part-time; call (318) 249-4282 or send resume’ to: Oak Grove Baptist Church, 219 Crowell Rd., Eros, LA 71238, Attn: Leslie Ingram.   • NEW ROADS - First church: minister of music and education; full-time position; send resume’ to: New Roads First Baptist Church, Attn: Search Committee, 824 West ºMain Street, New Roads, LA 70760. Available • SAREPTA - Wade Allen; available for supply or pastorate; call (318) 847-4776 or email rwa4jc@cbt.net for more information. Staff Changes Pastors   • SHREVEPORT - Marty Wright to Pinecroft church from Ebenezer church in Jonesboro.   • JENA - Scotty … [Read more...]

Attendance at houses of worship appears to have returned to normal levels after a short surge following September 11 events, researchers say.   In the process, the church has lost a chance to impact people spiritually, a leading Christian researcher asserted. Attendance at houses of worship appears to have returned to normal levels after a short surge following September 11 events, researchers say.   In the process, the church has lost a chance to impact people spiritually, a leading Christian researcher asserted.   A Gallup poll reported that 47 percent of adults surveyed Sept. 21-22 said they had attended church or synagogue in the previous week. That number was the highest percentage since the 1950s.   However, by Nov. 8-11, 42 percent of persons said they had attended worship in the previous week, almost equal to the 41 percent recorded in May.   Meanwhile, the Barna Research Group reported that 48 percent of adults surveyed recently said they had attended a church service in the past week, compared to 42 percent polled in July and August. However, when compared to last year’s figures, the numbers simply seem to reflect the usual seasonal increase, … [Read more...]

Every family has a story - and for Afghan families crowding refugee centers served by Southern Baptist workers in Europe, it usually is a sad one.   For instance, one ethnic Hazara woman was hit twice by Taliban bullets as she fled the Afghan capital of Kabul. She survived - barely - in her home village. She could not seek medical treatment, since no male doctors under the Taliban were allowed to see a woman’s body, much less touch it and any women doctors had been exiled long ago. Every family has a story - and for Afghan families crowding refugee centers served by Southern Baptist workers in Europe, it usually is a sad one.   For instance, one ethnic Hazara woman was hit twice by Taliban bullets as she fled the Afghan capital of Kabul. She survived - barely - in her home village. She could not seek medical treatment, since no male doctors under the Taliban were allowed to see a woman’s body, much less touch it and any women doctors had been exiled long ago.   The woman’s husband - a well-to-do businessman - was arrested two years ago. The Taliban demanded a high ransom for his freedom. The woman paid it, but her husband never returned. Instead, another group of Taliban thugs … [Read more...]

For the week of December 13, 2001 World of Religion Cooperative Program Gifts through the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program totaled $16 million last month, an increase of more than $2.2 million (16.4 percent) from the previous November. Two months into the Southern Baptist convention’s new budget year, overall gifts total $28.5 million, almost $964,000 (3.2 percent) behind budget. Meanwhile, designated gifts totaled almost $3.8 million last month, an increase of almost $100,000 (2.7 percent) from the previous November. Call to prayer Six Southern Baptist leaders have joined Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritt’s call for a day of prayer for Muslims on Dec. 16. SBC Executive Committee President Morris Chapman, International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin, North American Mission Board President Robert Reccord, LifeWay Christian Resources President James Draper Jr., Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land and Woman’s Missionary Union Executive Director-Treasurer Wanda Lee joined Merritt in signing a Nov. 30 open letter asking Southern Baptists and other Christians to "pray that God would speak clearly to Muslims and reveal himself" at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim … [Read more...]

"Operation Santa!" The entire elementary school joined the effort.   The teachers and administrators of the school wanted to help their students realize the joy of giving. They emphasized that many children have little joy in their Christmas without the help of others. "Operation Santa!" The entire elementary school joined the effort.   The teachers and administrators of the school wanted to help their students realize the joy of giving. They emphasized that many children have little joy in their Christmas without the help of others.   The administrators got in touch with a local charitable group. They worked together to form a list of needy children and the gifts they most wanted. The administrators and teachers told the students the gifts they would try to provide the less fortunate children and encouraged them to be creative in how they raised money.   Teachers carefully explained how money for the project would be raised. They sent notes home explaining "Operation Santa" would help Santa do what he otherwise would not be able to do.   They told the children they could bring donations of money and all of it would go directly to "Operation Santa" so … [Read more...]

For the week of December 20, 2001 World of Religion LC report Louisiana College has achieved many of the goals it set forth in recent years - but considerable work needs to be done to ensure the missions and quality of the school, President Rory Lee told trustees during a recent board meeting. Lee offered his assessment during a routine board meeting. In reviewing the financial state of the college, Lee noted the school experienced an increase of $991,544 in long-term debt last year to bring the total to $12.2 million. However, a plan is in place to service the debt, he noted. Lee also noted that the market value of the college’s endowment declined $1.5 million (5.2 percent) to $27.5 million. Nevertheless, the school remains a strong and healthy financial institution, Lee emphasized. In addition, the Louisiana Baptist school has made significant progress toward goals outlined in late 1997. These included increasing enrollment, strengthening teaching faculty, improving maintenance of the physical plant, making technological advances, focusing on the spiritual side of the school’s missions and improving college atmosphere. Each area has shown significant improvement, Lee said, citing such things as a 31 … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson, LBM Associate Editor   Nobody really spoke out loud about it, but it was clear to everyone involved - this was going to be Dad’s last Christmas.   He has been battling cancer for five months. By the time it was diagnosed in his colon, it already had spread. Nobody really spoke out loud about it, but it was clear to everyone involved - this was going to be Dad’s last Christmas.   He has been battling cancer for five months. By the time it was diagnosed in his colon, it already had spread.   Necessary surgery and treatment left him increasingly weak. Time grew shorter and shorter.   Thanksgiving had come and gone.   Now, it was Christmas - and Dad could barely walk.   That morning, Dad’s two sons helped him out of bed and into the reclining chair centered in the large living room area.   From there, Mom helped him distribute his presents.   He had something for everybody - wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, three grandsons. They were all there.   Then, Dad received his gifts - with Mom helping to open them and encourage a response. Already, he was tiring.   By the time the older son gave … [Read more...]

Ask Carol Doran about her favorite Christmas carol, and she does not hesitate with her answer.   "Without question, ‘Silent Night,’" says Doran, organist at Virginia Theological Seminary. "Some people think it’s not Christmas if you don’t sing it." Ask Carol Doran about her favorite Christmas carol, and she does not hesitate with her answer.   "Without question, ‘Silent Night,’" says Doran, organist at Virginia Theological Seminary. "Some people think it’s not Christmas if you don’t sing it."   However, following closely behind in Doran’s book, are "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World."   Beloved by young and old, weekly churchgoers and those who worship mainly at Christmas, the songs make the season for many. And many songs make the season, with everyone having their favorites.   Author Ace Collins started with a list of 250 tunes when he began compiling "Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas," a new book by Zondervan. Paring that list back to a mere 31 gave him insights on which carols have endured and why.   Throughout the 31 chapters that look at one song each, the word "simple" pops up as one of the endearing aspects of the … [Read more...]