Two years ago, the Baptist Foundation of Arizona collapsed, victim of an elaborate insider scheme that has led to criminal charges and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. Two years ago, the Baptist Foundation of Arizona collapsed, victim of an elaborate insider scheme that has led to criminal charges and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for investors.   Two years later, Louisiana Baptist Foundation Executive Director Wayne Taylor also continues to preach a simple message - what happened there cannot happen here.   Despite his efforts, questions remain for some - and in this case, what some people do not know definitely can hurt, especially the Louisiana Baptist Foundation.   That is why Taylor wants Louisiana Baptists to know the truth about the operation of his state agency. "The Baptist Foundation of Arizona was a bad apple doing its own thing," he noted. "To understand the difference (between them and us) takes some understanding of how the Baptist Foundation of Arizona operated versus how the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and the other Baptist state foundations operate."   There are three key areas of difference that prevent an … [Read more...]

At First Baptist Church of New Orleans relocation is tied to a larger gospel vision   Uptown New Orleans is a scenic area. Expansive, Garden District homes - some well more than 100 years old - catch the eyes of travelers down St. Charles Avenue. At First Baptist Church of New Orleans relocation is tied to a larger gospel vision   Uptown New Orleans is a scenic area. Expansive, Garden District homes - some well more than 100 years old - catch the eyes of travelers down St. Charles Avenue.   Stretching oak trees line the divided avenue, and street cars operate in the median that separates motor vehicles.   In the 4000 block of St. Charles - at the corner of Napoleon Avenue - stands First Baptist Church of New Orleans, right where it has stood for 47 years, since famed preacher J.D. Grey led the congregation to move there in 1954.   And that is right where the church could die or become an insignificant religious institution, current Pastor David Crosby warns. In an effort to prevent that from happening, Crosby has led the church through a painful, intense process in which members agreed to relocate the church.   It is only in doing so that First … [Read more...]

An LBC article this week deals with a question that arises occasionally when Louisiana Baptists read about the collapse of the Arizona Baptist Foundation. The question is: Could the same thing happen with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation? An LBC article this week deals with a question that arises occasionally when Louisiana Baptists read about the collapse of the Arizona Baptist Foundation. The question is: Could the same thing happen with the Louisiana Baptist Foundation?   The answer to this important question is, simply put, no.   The basic reason the Louisiana Baptist Foundation will not suffer the same kind of collapse as the Arizona Baptist Foundation is this: The natures and operations of the two foundations are vastly different.   The Arizona Baptist Foundation was established by the new-work Arizona Baptist Convention and then allowed to form itself into a not-for-profit organization. This organization worked to put money primarily into its own coffers rather than into other Arizona Baptist ministries.   The basic purpose of a Baptist foundation, formed either by a state or national Baptist convention, is to handle monies for other organizations, to make money for … [Read more...]

Louisiana College celebrated its 95th anniversary earlier this month, honoring four persons for outstanding achievements in the process. Louisiana College celebrated its 95th anniversary earlier this month, honoring four persons for outstanding achievements in the process.   Founded in 1906, Louisiana College has graduated more than 10,000 students in its 95 years of operation. The only Baptist college in the Bayou State, the school is known for academic excellence, President Rory Lee pointed out. Indeed, it has received - and continues to earn - numerous national academic and value recognitions.   Each year, the college celebrates its history and accomplishments during annual Founder’s Day ceremonies on its Pineville campus. This year’s activites on October 4 included a chapel service in which four persons were awarded Trustees’ Distinguished Service Awards from the school.   The Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award was begun as a means of recognizing persons for exceptional service to the church, outstanding achievements in the arts and exemplary service to philanthropy toward Louisiana College. Recipients are chosen each year by the school’s trustees.   The 2001 … [Read more...]

For the week of October 18, 2001 Potpourri • RAYVILLE - Woodlawn church: Richland Association Sunday School Leader Conference; Oct. 25, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.; Steve Coleman, minister of education; Alan Miller, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Brookwood church: "Judgment House"; Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 6:30 - 10 p.m.; for information, call the church office at (318) 686-2898; Mark Sutton, pastor.   • SIMPSON - Simpson church: community-wide "Hobo Stew"; Oct. 31; joint service, 6:30 p.m.; dinner, 7 p.m.; James Miller, pastor.   • TIOGA - Tioga First church: "Under the Big Top" children’s circus; Oct. 31, 5 - 7 p.m.; David E. Cranford, pastor.   • WALKER - Judson church: Felix Snipes, magician, to perform Oct. 26-27, 7 p.m. and Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Merelin McCon, pastor. Homecomings • CASTOR - New Ebenezer church: Oct. 28, 11 a.m.; Jim Walsh, speaker; dinner to follow; music by The Walsh Family; Kelly Tingle, pastor.   • CLINTON - Bluff Creek church: Oct. 28, 10:15 a.m.; Terry Ellis, speaker; Patty Davis, music; dinner to follow; Byron Comish, pastor. Anniversaries • SHREVEPORT - Trinity Heights church: 60th; Oct. 28, 10:45 a.m.; dinner to follow with music by Vision … [Read more...]

A final destination for Truth looms on the horizon, but the essence of the contemporary Christian musical groups lies in its long journey. A final destination for Truth looms on the horizon, but the essence of the contemporary Christian musical groups lies in its long journey.   In May, Truth founder Roger Breland announced the ensemble would conclude its 30th year with a Farewell Tour, culminating in a final concert on June 16, 2002, in Nashville Tenn. "For the past year, my family and I have been praying about our future," Breland says. "We believe this final chapter will complete the vision God launched 30 years ago."   During the past three decades, the 21-member cast of musicians and technicians has performed almost 10,000 concerts, recorded 50 albums, traveled to more than two dozen countries and been heard in live concerts by more than 10 million people.   However, Truth began its gigantic music ministry under modest circumstances.   In August 1967, Breland became minister of music at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala. Inspired by the Ralph Carmichael musical "Good News," the former high school teacher introduced a contemporary sound into his youth … [Read more...]

While terrorist attacks and military retaliation create uncertainty about the future for many people, Southern Baptists must "seize the day" for Jesus Christ, said Jerry Rankin, president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. While terrorist attacks and military retaliation create uncertainty about the future for many people, Southern Baptists must "seize the day" for Jesus Christ, said Jerry Rankin, president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.   "This is not a time for putting missionary activity on hold," Rankin said. "It is a time for seizing the opportunity to proclaim our living savior in every effort to extend the kingdom of God into the strongholds of darkness."   Southern Baptist missionary work was temporarily disrupted by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 and the military strikes launched in reply on Oct. 7, Rankin said.   "A number of families were temporarily withdrawn from the more vulnerable situations, and others in isolated and remote assignments were relocated," he said. "Some public events overseas were postponed, some travel restricted and a few volunteer projects canceled for the immediate future.   "But we feel these … [Read more...]

You are as handy as a shirt pocket." Folks said that when I was growing up. Being something of a literalist in those days, that saying made little sense to me. You are as handy as a shirt pocket." Folks said that when I was growing up. Being something of a literalist in those days, that saying made little sense to me. I never had anything to go into a shirt pocket. So, one day after someone said that, I asked, "What does that mean?" The kind person helped me with my lack of imagination. "You know how handy your shirt pocket is, don’t you? Well, don’t you?" Responding further to my blank stare, my friend said, "You know, you can keep your pencil there or stick notes into it or put your chewing gum in there. It is just handy to have around. And you know how unhandy it is to have a shirt without a pocket." "Oooh, I see," thinking I was getting it. "And there is nothing worse than a pocket that has a hole in it." My friend’s expression said, "I never saw anyone that thickheaded." Since that day, I have never taken pockets for granted. I try to appreciate them and say a good word for them whenever given the chance. They are handy. Pocket lovers have a field day nowadays. Designers put pockets everywhere. Last … [Read more...]

Leonard Sweet is glad to tell people "what makes him tick" - that he is crazy in love with Jesus.   "And I think it’s your job and mine to help a whole new generation to say the same thing," Sweet reminded a group of preschool and children’s workers at a recent Southern Baptist conference. Leonard Sweet is glad to tell people "what makes him tick" - that he is crazy in love with Jesus.   "And I think it’s your job and mine to help a whole new generation to say the same thing," Sweet reminded a group of preschool and children’s workers at a recent Southern Baptist conference.   The task will not be easy, noted Sweet, an author and E. Stanley Jones professor at Drew University in New York.   Indeed, Sweet compared the challenge of adults born prior to 1962 sharing Christ with people born after that year to immigrants trying to communicate with natives.   People born after 1962 are"A.C." (after computers and natives to today’s culture, Sweet explained. Those born before 1962 are "B.C." (before computers) and represent immigrants, he said.   "It’s time we went native," Sweet emphasized. "How can we reach them without imposing our immigrant … [Read more...]

A year or two ago, these folks would have spent Sunday mornings sleeping in, mowing the lawn, reading the paper.   Now they are going to church - and a researcher from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wants to know why and why they picked the church they did. A year or two ago, these folks would have spent Sunday mornings sleeping in, mowing the lawn, reading the paper.   Now they are going to church - and a researcher from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wants to know why and why they picked the church they did.   Thom Rainer is dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at the seminary in Louisville, Ky. In search of the answers to his questions, Rainer has interviewed new members at growing churches to find out why they chose that church over others and what that church is doing that works.   Among the answers he has found:   • It is not because of the church’s name. In this crowd, denominationalism does not cut it, Rainer notes. The denomination often played no role at all in the person’s decision to choose a particular church.   • These new Christians want to know what a church believes in and want it to … [Read more...]