P>Christina Sagat’s testimony of being a Christian in Indonesia is a tale that involves trauma - and pain. Christina Sagat’s testimony of being a Christian in Indonesia is a tale that involves trauma - and pain.   "My scar healed quite fast, but the sad, humiliated feeling stayed," Sagat says as she tells how she suffered genital mutilation at the hands of Muslim neighbors.   "I feel like I’m no longer complete, both as a person and a woman."   Sagat, 32, is not alone in her tale. Her niece suffered the same forced treatment - and while she was pregnant. So did Sagat’s 70-year-old mother. So did others - teenagers, infants alike.   "I don’t understand these people," Sagat says simply of the Muslim mutilators.   Sagat’s story is indicative of the state of affairs in Indonesia. As Muslim jihad warriors press their efforts to kill or convert all Christians there, many believers are forced to choose between their faith and their lives.   Sagat is a native of the nation’s Kasiui island. Until recently, Christians and Muslims lived peacefully on the island, even helping each other build places of worship.   Then, the fighting … [Read more...]

Numerous meetings and annual events are scheduled in conjunction with the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans next month. Numerous meetings and annual events are scheduled in conjunction with the 2001 Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans next month.   The annual convention is set for June 12-13 in the Louisiana Superdome. The schedule for the two-day gathering features a variety of music, business and messages.   Other related meetings will feature various Louisiana Baptists as well. As usual, a variety of groups have planned meetings and fellowship events in conjunction with the annual convention.   Scheduled events include:   •The 2001 Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference.   The next generation of Southern Baptist pastors are scheduled to take to the pulpit June 10-11 for what organizers say they hope will be "an old-fashioned Holy Ghost meeting." Meeting organizers say they sought to enlist grassroots and hot-hearted preachers for the annual conference, which is set to meet in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The theme of the meeting is "Until He Comes ... Go!" There will be a decided focus on evangelism, organizers said. One of those … [Read more...]

I read recently that the trustees of Louisiana College have agreed that all professors employed in the future must sign an agreement as a part of his/her contract endorsing the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. I read recently that the trustees of Louisiana College have agreed that all professors employed in the future must sign an agreement as a part of his/her contract endorsing the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.   I would like to say "Thank You" to the trustees for setting a positive standard for Louisiana College and for all Louisiana Baptists. "Thank You" for making a positive influence on our future Christian heritage as Southern Baptists. Shane Terrebonne, Pastor Northside Baptist Church DeQuincy … [Read more...]

For the week of May 24, 2001 Potpourri •DRY PRONG - New Prospect church: "Man of God" musical presented by men’s choir; May 27, 6 p.m.; Robert Willie, minister of music; Leonard Free, pastor.   •HAUGHTON - Koran church: dramatization of Lord’s Supper; June 3, 11 a.m.; George Rogers, pastor.   •SAREPTA - New Sarepta church: Dennis Swanberg to speak; June 4, 7 p.m.; Danny Dodds, pastor.   •TIOGA - Alpine First church: "Man of God" musical presented by men’s choir of New Prospect church, Dry Prong; June 3, 6 p.m.; Robert Willie, director; Wayne Jenkins, interim pastor. Homecomings •MANSFIELD - Emmanuel church: 59th; June 3; Sunday School, 10 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m.; dinner and afternoon music to follow; Wayne Spanhanks, speaker; John Neilson, music; Jim Reynolds, pastor.   •VIVIAN - Mt. Gilead church: 141st; June 3, 10:30 a.m.; dinner to follow; Bill Mitchell, speaker; Jerry Jones, pastor. Dedications •ALEXANDRIA - Riverview church: dedication of new facilities; May 27; Sunday School, 9 a.m.; worship service, 10:15 a.m.; Barry Corbett, speaker; dinner to follow; dedication service, 2 p.m.; Paul A. Roney, pastor. Revivals •MANSFIELD - Emmanuel church: June 4-7, 7 … [Read more...]

Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor Give us a year of knocking on doors five to eight hours a day, conducting telephone surveys, working with kids in backyard Bible clubs, helping start three churches and living four to a two-bedroom apartment. If you accept, you have to give us only $10,000." Lynn P. Clayton LBM Editor Give us a year of knocking on doors five to eight hours a day, conducting telephone surveys, working with kids in backyard Bible clubs, helping start three churches and living four to a two-bedroom apartment. If you accept, you have to give us only $10,000." One could hardly blame folks who thought there would be no takers for such a deal. However, five Louisiana Baptist college students spent the last year living out just such an agreement with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries Division of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. When asked why they took a year to work on a Metro-One Team in Lafayette under the described circumstances, to a person, the team of five gave the same answer. "Because God said so." The three mission pastors, the director of missions in Lafayette and the many people whose lives were touched directly by the students during the past year all are thankful they heard God’s … [Read more...]

Karen L. Willoughby Free-lance writer   How is this for a view of science and religion that one may not hear all that often in today’s high-tech world of research and advancement?   Today’s scientific advances owe their genesis to Christianity - and every new discovery of the cosmos is an affirmation of God at work in the universe he created. Karen L. Willoughby Free-lance writer   How is this for a view of science and religion that one may not hear all that often in today’s high-tech world of research and advancement?   Today’s scientific advances owe their genesis to Christianity - and every new discovery of the cosmos is an affirmation of God at work in the universe he created.   The view certainly is not an oft-cited one. But it is the one that noted scientists and educators presented in addressing a recent "Cosmos and Creator" conference sponsored by the Discovery Institute public policy think tank in Seattle.   "Christianity was the midwife bringing modern science to birth in the mid-1700s," emphasized Sir John Polkinghorne, an Anglican priest and a physicist at Cambridge University.   As such, both science and Christianity have … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor The Bible begins ever so simply, with a clear pronouncement - "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."   It is a logical starting place. Probably since the dawn of reason and imagination, humans have wondered how they got here and how the world began. The Bible begins ever so simply, with a clear pronouncement - "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."   It is a logical starting place. Probably since the dawn of reason and imagination, humans have wondered how they got here and how the world began.   Ancient people groups had a variety of answers - almost all of which involved one or more god or spirits. Even as science began to take hold and humans started to find the answers to some of their questions of existence, there was general consensus - someone was in charge of the world.   Someone had planned all of this.   Science and religion moved together.   However, during the 1600s, science and religion began to separate. The idea of natural law began to take hold - there was an established orderliness to things. In time, many scientists and theologians accepted the idea that … [Read more...]

Okay, I’m old. Everyone seems determined to remind me. Some folks at Beloit College in Wisconsin put out an annual "age gauge"to remind folks more than 40 how old we are. Stuff like kids starting to college this year were born in 1982, and how they are predated by Atari, which came along when my offsprings were kids. Like we need reminding. Okay, I’m old. Everyone seems determined to remind me. Some folks at Beloit College in Wisconsin put out an annual "age gauge"to remind folks more than 40 how old we are. Stuff like kids starting to college this year were born in 1982, and how they are predated by Atari, which came along when my offsprings were kids. Like we need reminding.   Someone sent me an E-mail - okay, stop right here. Take e-mail for instance. Hate it. Anxiety washes over me every time I click that little "Send" symbol. Who knows how it goes, even where it goes for sure. One false move, and the epistle zooms off to the black hole of cyberspace. I am so old, I remember writing by hand a postal card, sticking a penny stamp on it and trusting the postal service to get the card to the proper recipient, even if it was later than sooner. I touched it, felt it, tasted the yukkie glue on the stamp, … [Read more...]

If you have been investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention over the years, you should strongly consider going to the Annual Meeting of the Convention. This year, the Convention meets June 12-13 in New Orleans’ Super Dome. If you have been investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention over the years, you should strongly consider going to the Annual Meeting of the Convention. This year, the Convention meets June 12-13 in New Orleans’ Super Dome.   The actual convention starts on Tuesday morning at 8:00 with inspirational singing. The meeting ends at 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday.   The Convention is open to anyone wishing to attend. You do not have to be an elected messenger from your church to attend, only to vote. While convention planners do not necessarily intend the meetings to be come-and-go affairs, that is exactly what they are! You can choose whatever session you wish to attend.   This year’s convention features music from mass choirs supported by full orchestra as well as outstanding soloists. The music is comparable to the best available anywhere.   This year’s convention sermon will be preached by Louisiana’s own Fred Luter, Jr., pastor of … [Read more...]

This past week I received the Baptist Message of April 26. I live out of state and the mail is slow. In that issue I read the letter by Edith Kirkpatrick concerning her withholding final payment of $25,000 to Louisiana College. This past week I received the Baptist Message of April 26. I live out of state and the mail is slow. In that issue I read the letter by Edith Kirkpatrick concerning her withholding final payment of $25,000 to Louisiana College.   Let me say to the trustees, you’ve done well. As a former trustee, had I been given the honor of still being on the board, I would have voted with you. My wife and I are graduates of Louisiana College and we are both proud of your decision. We agree wholeheartedly with your actions in adoption of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.   I would say to anyone who disagrees and threatens to "keep their money," a fountain is no match for Biblical truth. Louisiana College was founded by people who stood for truth and wanted Christ at the center of the College. What’s more important - money or truth? As a Christian I’ll take truth over a fountain any day. Carl Weiser Rustburg, Va. … [Read more...]