My friend was able to step out of his garage and pick up his morning newspaper. The walk was so short he often took the few steps quickly, in his pajamas, or . . My friend was able to step out of his garage and pick up his morning newspaper. The walk was so short he often took the few steps quickly, in his pajamas, or . . . That moment of mischievousness thrilled the little boy that dwells inside every man, even when he hits middle-age.   Then he moved. He built a new home for his family and it is nice, but the driveway is long and winding. The newspaper is dropped at the junction of the street and the drive so the morning newspaper is not close enough to retrieve in a dash.   Now, my friend has to put on his street clothes and at least slippers to ward off the pain of rocks and acorns and whatever else falls on driveways. He walks to the end of his drive, picks up the paper and bemoans the necessary walk back to the house when it had been so easy.   The consolation is that Rosie the dog makes the walk with him. She is playful this time of the morning and glad to see her master. It is a brief but good time of bonding.   After a few morning walks to the paper, my friend … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Mansfield recently marked its 150th anniversary, celebrating a ministry that has reached throughout Louisiana. First Baptist Church of Mansfield recently marked its 150th anniversary, celebrating a ministry that has reached throughout Louisiana.   The Louisiana Baptist church was organized on June 18, 1851, with fourteen original members who pledged $1,051 to build the congregation’s first facility.   A total of five facilities have housed the church, including one accidently destroyed by fire in the Battle of Mansfield during the Civil War. The church was being used as a hospital, when a wounded soldier knocked over a candle that led to the fire.   The Mansfield church members have focused on building beyond themselves as well. The congregation has given birth to two other churches and has teamed with Baptists in South Louisiana to help support work in that region as well.   Twenty-four pastors have served the church, including current Pastor William Crosby. Anniversary activities also included messages from Scott Tatum, a longtime Louisiana Baptist leader and a former member of the church; and John Jackson, a California resident who is the … [Read more...]

Anew church building does not cause growth - it merely permits growth, Davis Byrd told Southern Baptist church leaders recently. Anew church building does not cause growth - it merely permits growth, Davis Byrd told Southern Baptist church leaders recently.   "The purpose of a church is not a church building, but church building," said Byrd, director of the church architecture department of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   "Building church facilities is a problem of purpose long before it is an architectural or financial problem." he continued. "Too many churches do property and facility planning as if there were no connection between the kind of space provided and church growth. Others plan a new building with a vague hope that just constructing a building will lead to growth."   Studies of growing churches consistently show that property, buildings and space are major factors in sustaining growth patterns, Byrd said during a recent conference sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   "(But) It takes people and planning to make growth happen," he emphasized. "Your future is what you, under God, set out … [Read more...]

Sensitivity to cultural issues has become an absolutely essential role in evangelism as it relates to church guests, Will McRaney told Southern Baptist church leaders recently. Sensitivity to cultural issues has become an absolutely essential role in evangelism as it relates to church guests, Will McRaney told Southern Baptist church leaders recently.   A lack of guest sensitivity may mean guests will feel out of place and less likely to return, warned McRaney, associate professor of evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and co-founder of Ministry Enhancement Group.   Also, a lack of sensitivity could mean that church members will be less inclined to invite friends, and new Christians may not understand what is taking place in a worship service, McRaney said.   "New Christians sometimes fake an understanding of what is going on in the service, or they may quit coming to church altogether, thinking that they just don’t ‘get it,’" McRaney said.   Welcoming guests without making them feel awkward or embarrassed and explaining insider church language can be sensitive gestures that make people want to return to church, he said.   McRaney listed … [Read more...]

"Baptists are their best when they cooperate."   Who said that? Actually, this statement has been reflected by just about everyone who seriously studies the life and work of Baptists. "Baptists are their best when they cooperate."   Who said that? Actually, this statement has been reflected by just about everyone who seriously studies the life and work of Baptists. Perhaps the student of Baptist history who most recently reflected this thought is Jimmy Draper who is President of Lifeway Christian Resources. He reached this conclusion personally as he considered the history of Baptists. Baptists cooperate because they want to cooperate. The nature of some other denominations includes church and denominational structures that make cooperation an essential requirement. For instance, there is no local Catholic church unless that church operates as an extension of the church in Rome and is ultimately ruled by Rome.   Baptists, on the other hand, do not "have" to do anything structurally beyond their local church. No "higher-ups" can tell a Baptist church or Baptists what to do. Some say even God has difficulty telling some what to do! The emphasis in Baptist polity is upon the … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   Almost 25 years ago, an author visited Louisiana College in Pineville, to talk about the dangers of technological advances.   His message was simple - the world was entering uncharted territory fraught with moral and ethical peril. Almost 25 years ago, an author visited Louisiana College in Pineville, to talk about the dangers of technological advances.   His message was simple - the world was entering uncharted territory fraught with moral and ethical peril.   In response, the time had come for researchers and others alike to stop and ask how far they should advance into the new land - and under what terms.   "Just because we can do something does not mean we should," the author emphasized again and again.   A quarter of a century later, his words could not be more relevant as the world faces the issue of stem-cell research.   One would have to be a hermit almost not to know of the debate now underway regarding the stem-cell procedure.   Should it be done? How should it be done?   What are the other options?   The debate is crossing all sorts of lines.   It … [Read more...]

Ice cubes clinking together in a tall glass, the fizz as a favorite can of soda opens, a bird cheerfully singing outside - all are common sounds most people do not even notice. Ice cubes clinking together in a tall glass, the fizz as a favorite can of soda opens, a bird cheerfully singing outside - all are common sounds most people do not even notice.   However, for Allison Wilson, these sounds and many others cause her to praise God. After all, the Louisiana resident is hearing them clearly for the first time at the age of 23.   Wilson has spent most of her life looking and listening but never really hearing. However, with the help of a cochlear implant in April, she has "heard" for the first time. Indeed, Wilson is being introduced to a whole new world of hearing as her brain adjusts to the stimuli of many different sounds during the next several months.   "I feel so wonderfully excited and blessed each time I hear a sound or a word," she says. "It has been a highly emotional time, from the night before my surgery even to today as I hear new sounds.   "Being able to hear has made me feel richly blessed," Wilson adds. "Each time I hear a new sound, I silently praise … [Read more...]

I hope this message finds you and the "Baptist Message" doing well. I hope this message finds you and the "Baptist Message" doing well.   I just read the article in your "Baptist Scene" section about the closing of Southeastern’s child care center and wanted to bring you up to date on the situation at Southern Seminary in Louisville.   Several months ago, Southern decided to keep our child care center open. We have invested about $100,000 to improve the playground equipment and to upgrade the fencing and other security features.   The story you ran originated in the North Carolina Baptist newspaper and was later corrected but, unfortunately, not before it was picked up by other state papers.   If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.   Lawrence Smith Southern Baptist Seminary … [Read more...]

Three years after the Southern Baptist Convention met in Salt Lake City, the eyes of the world focus on the Utah city as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics in about six months. Three years after the Southern Baptist Convention met in Salt Lake City, the eyes of the world focus on the Utah city as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics in about six months.   And as they did in 1998, Baptists and Mormons both see the event as an opportunity for evangelism in the hometown of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   With strong family values, an emphasis on Jesus Christ and a massive public-relations campaign, Mormons appear to have a lot to offer. Their continuing growth bears out the appeal of their message. Indeed, there are about 5 million Mormons in the United States and 11 million worldwide.   Mormons contend their doctrine is Christian and a restoration of the original church established by Jesus Christ.   In turn, Baptist leaders warn of deception and a doctrine that is lacking.   On any Sunday, visitors to a Mormon ward - or what is referred to as a meetinghouse - likely will find plenty of families and friendly people to greet … [Read more...]

Music used in corporate church worship should not seek to amuse, entertain or manipulate congregations, Ken Puls stressed recently. Music used in corporate church worship should not seek to amuse, entertain or manipulate congregations, Ken Puls stressed recently.   Instead, every text and tune should be carefully and thoughtfully informed by Scripture, said Puls, who teaches church music at Dallas Baptist University and serves as music director at Heritage Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas.   "I know of no other ministry in the church that has so great a potential to help or to hinder the pastoral ministry of teaching and preaching in the church than music," Puls said in an address at the recent 2001 Southern Baptist Founders Conference.   Music often competes with preaching and teaching for supremacy in the contemporary church - when it should serve as an underpinning for the proclamation of God’s Word, Puls explained.   "The music in your church has the potential to become an obstacle to worship (by) amusing, distracting, entertaining the people and, as a result, minimizing and trivializing the preaching of the Word of God, or worse, contradicting the pastor who is … [Read more...]