They are piling up in the refrigerator, spilling onto the floor every time the door is opened. Without creative action, they will take over the place. They are piling up in the refrigerator, spilling onto the floor every time the door is opened. Without creative action, they will take over the place.   Everyone orders one of those "deal meals" at a drive-through burger place. Marvelous how they come up with those cute, rhyming names. You get a burger, fries and drink in any one of three sizes. By the time you finish ordering, you feel like you have been playing 20 questions: "Would you like cheese on that? Would you like to super size it? How about big size it? What kind of drink would you like with that? Would you like some pie with that? Would you like ketchup?"   Normally, I say, "No thank you" to the ketchup. I like to drive safely. Peeling the wrapper until it exposes just enough burger, juggling that, plus removing the fries from the holder, then placing them into my mouth and working the drink back and forth from the holder on the dash and into the mouth while talking on the cellular phone is about all I can handle while negotiating the Alexandria South Traffic Circle … [Read more...]

The Stone Mountain area just east of Atlanta received some sprucing up - and a healthy dose of the good news - as Southern Baptist women from 10 states recently descended on the area. The Stone Mountain area just east of Atlanta received some sprucing up - and a healthy dose of the good news - as Southern Baptist women from 10 states recently descended on the area.   Nearly 160 Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union volunteers drove up to 10 hours to participate in a range of missions efforts in the area.   Volunteers worked to weed and plant flower beds in Stone Mountain Village as part of a city beautification project, conduct prayerwalks and block parties, serve in ministry centers, perform light construction and visit shut-ins.   All in all, 20 projects were completed during the Atlanta MissionsFEST held in late April. It was the second such event sponsored by the national Woman’s Missionary Union. Last year, Charleston, S.C., was the first location to benefit from the ministry. Little Rock, Ark., and Philadelphia, Pa., will host similar events this year.   In the Stone Mountain effort, volunteers worked at a range of projects.   • At Indian Creek Baptist … [Read more...]

While Southern Baptists have contributed faithfully to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund since the 1970s, hunger ministries in the United States have struggled with increased demand in the past year. While Southern Baptists have contributed faithfully to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund since the 1970s, hunger ministries in the United States have struggled with increased demand in the past year. Requests for domestic hunger funds were up 80 percent, while Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund receipts actually declined in that time. Still, in spite of the struggle, nearly 3 million lives were touched in the United States and its territories alone last year, with 13,600 professions of faith directly related to domestic hunger ministries funded by Southern Baptists. "Full implementation of welfare reform resulted in thousands of people entering the workplace, earning wages too meager to meet their family’s basic needs," explained Donoso Escobar, director of hunger ministries with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. "The result has been an unprecedented level of requests for funds. At such times, we have been blessed with an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love in a very tangible … [Read more...]

Shannon Baker New Orleans Seminary   Three years ago, Doyle Cooper did not sense the fulfillment and purpose he longed for the senior adults at First Baptist Church of DeRidder to experience. Three years ago, Doyle Cooper did not sense the fulfillment and purpose he longed for the senior adults at First Baptist Church of DeRidder to experience.   It was not as if the seniors were inactive. They were involved in the church’s ministries of prayer chains, phone care, luncheons, day trips and a growing Sunday School.   Still, Cooper looked for something more.   He planned a mission trip for them.   The general assessment was clear in the comment of one senior adult after the trip.   "I’ve been sitting on the pew for 50 years - but never again!" the senior said.   Cooper has done his part to help his senior adults fulfill that commitment.   Recently, he took a week off his normal chemotherapy regimen for cancer and led 55 senior adults from the DeRidder church on a fourth missions trip.   This time, the 25-year youth pastor turned senior adult minister led seniors to the inaugural Senior Adult MissionLab at New Orleans … [Read more...]

For the week of June 7, 2001 Potpourri •PRAIRIEVILLE - Broussard Grove church: Jim Richards, executive director of Texas convention, to speak, June 10, 8:45 and 11 a.m.; Nathan Luce, pastor.   •SHREVEPORT - North Shreve church: Moody Adams presents "Men, Mice or Mountain Movers"; June 17, 11 a.m.; Steve Miller, minister of music; Roy W. Davis, pastor. Revivals •MANGHAM - Bethlehem church: June 14-16, 7 p.m.; June 17, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Alan Miller, evangelist; Bill Wilson, music; J. W. Allen, pastor. Ordinations •ELM GROVE - Elm Grove church: Dennis Spearman and Cliff Hudson to deacon ministry; Ed Baswell, pastor. Youth •DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: RA camp for boys ages 6-12, July 2-5; Eric Johnson, speaker; Bill and Blanche Wester, missionaries; RA Pioneer Outdoor camp for boys ages 13-18, July 2-5; for information, call the camp at (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   •EROS - Seeker Springs Ministry Center: camp for girls grades 3-6; June 11-14; cost is $90; for information, call the camp at (318) 249-4495.   •EUNICE - Acadian center: mission camp; (GA-Acteen/RA camp); July 2-6; cost is $85; for information, call the camp at (337) 457-9047; James Newsom, camp … [Read more...]

In case one has not noticed, the mosaic of the American family is changing - and the change presents a daunting challenge to a church more accustomed to ministering within a more traditional format. In case one has not noticed, the mosaic of the American family is changing - and the change presents a daunting challenge to a church more accustomed to ministering within a more traditional format.   The changes should not be surprising - observers have noted the changes for years now. However, there is no denying the starkness of the 2000 census figures recently released.   Fewer than one-fourth of American households (23.5 percent) now are traditional nuclear families - composed of married couples and their children.   By way of contrast, in 1960, the number of Ozzie and Harriet-type households in the nation totaled 45 percent.   Now, American households show an increase in homes composed of unmarried partners, as well as in the number of children living with single parents.   Yes, the number of traditional nuclear families has been declining for years. Still, to say that less than one-fourth of households now fit in that mold is startling. However, one certainly … [Read more...]

We crawl carefully into the raft. The high quality raft, constructed of super-strong nylon and rubber, is made for safety.   We are a mixed bag of riders - the guide, two young women in their 20s, a young man in his 20s, the young man’s son, who is three years old, and me. We crawl carefully into the raft. The high quality raft, constructed of super-strong nylon and rubber, is made for safety.   We are a mixed bag of riders - the guide, two young women in their 20s, a young man in his 20s, the young man’s son, who is three years old, and me.   We spend the 15 minutes before getting onto the raft securing life-jackets on each of us. They have to fit well, we are told, so if by some rare chance we go into the water, the current will not pull them off. We spend extra time making sure the three-year-old’s is properly adjusted to his small body.   We push the raft off the bank and into the full current of the mountain river. This is a beautiful day, and our anticipation for the ride is high.   The water is cold, really cold. Only thirty miles and 10 degrees Fahrenheit away, the water had been snow and ice. Although this is mid summer, the snow banks high in the … [Read more...]