A running joke among Baptist ministers during two decades of denominational infighting has been, "If the Southern Baptist Convention splits, I’m going with the Annuity Board."   For some persons, it no longer could prove a laughing matter. A running joke among Baptist ministers during two decades of denominational infighting has been, "If the Southern Baptist Convention splits, I’m going with the Annuity Board."   For some persons, it no longer could prove a laughing matter.   The Southern Baptist agency has reminded state conventions that its policies state staff members from churches that publicly sever ties with the convention no longer can be eligible to participate in Annuity Board retirement or insurance programs.   The board can continue to manage asset accumulations and distributions for past participants but cannot accept additional contributions or make insurance programs available, officials explained.   State convention officials have been asked to implement the established policy and to notify the Annuity Board when a church announces its withdrawal from the Southern Baptist Convention.   The Church Annuity Plan is based on contractual … [Read more...]

The Roman Catholic Church continues to be the largest denomination in the United States, with Southern Baptists ahead of all others. The 2001 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches puts Roman Catholic membership at 62 million in this country. Southern Baptists are second with 15.8 million members, the yearbook reports. The Roman Catholic Church continues to be the largest denomination in the United States, with Southern Baptists ahead of all others. The 2001 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches puts Roman Catholic membership at 62 million in this country. Southern Baptists are second with 15.8 million members, the yearbook reports.   The next-closest is the United Methodist Church at almost 8.4 million.   Those figures represent little change from the previous yearbook. Indeed, most of United States and Canadian recorded membership gains or loses within a margin of 1 percent during that time.   That shows a steadying of declines as high as 3 percent or 4 percent in some mainline denominations a decade ago.   Catholics recorded a membership gain of 0.6 percent in 1999, the annual report indicated. Southern Baptists came in at 0.7 percent. Assemblies of God … [Read more...]

Doy Cave New Orleans Seminary Southern Baptists could learn a great deal from rival, false gospels who are creating missionaries and subsequent converts at an alarming rate, Phil Roberts said.   For instance, through daunting missionary efforts, Jehovah’s Witnesses have grown to 5 million, 4 million of whom live outside the United States, Roberts said. Southern Baptists could learn a great deal from rival, false gospels who are creating missionaries and subsequent converts at an alarming rate, Phil Roberts said.   For instance, through daunting missionary efforts, Jehovah’s Witnesses have grown to 5 million, 4 million of whom live outside the United States, Roberts said.   Even more impressive is the growth rate of the Mormon church, up 1,000 percent in the last 40 years and still growing through its aggressive missions efforts, he said.   "Since the Second World War, when there were only a few thousand missionaries, (Mormon missionaries) have grown to over 50,000," said Roberts, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a former interfaith witness leader for Southern Baptists. "These missionaries now produce 300,000 converts ... each … [Read more...]

The term "slippery slope" has never been more appropriately used than when it is used to describe Louisiana’s descent into the throes of legalized gambling.   The idea of a "slippery slope" is that once one step is taken onto the slope, a person slips and slides, unable to control his descent, to the bottom of the slope. Climbing back up the slippery slope is virtually impossible. The term "slippery slope" has never been more appropriately used than when it is used to describe Louisiana’s descent into the throes of legalized gambling.   The idea of a "slippery slope" is that once one step is taken onto the slope, a person slips and slides, unable to control his descent, to the bottom of the slope. Climbing back up the slippery slope is virtually impossible.   Louisiana has stepped onto the "slippery slope" of depending upon the revenue from legalized gambling and we are slipping pell-mell further down that slope.   We have gone from having some parimutuel gambling at racetracks to almost every kind of wagering in only a handful of years. The state has fallen for every line politicians and casino operators have offered. Reason has gone out the window for the hope of easy … [Read more...]

In the article (Feb. 22) about Paige Patterson’s comments at the NOBTS he states that he would be "hard-pressed to get past eight or 10" great Bible-teaching preachers.   I find this comment an affront to the thousands of sincere and hard-working preachers who diligently and faithfully fulfill this responsibility. In the article (Feb. 22) about Paige Patterson’s comments at the NOBTS he states that he would be "hard-pressed to get past eight or 10" great Bible-teaching preachers.   I find this comment an affront to the thousands of sincere and hard-working preachers who diligently and faithfully fulfill this responsibility. He is essentiality telling me that my current and previous pastors are not good Bible teachers, wherein I strongly disagree. Furthermore, he offers little encouragement to the students at NOBTS that they will ever measure up to his standards.   If Mr. Patterson believes that there is "a state of confusion" among Baptists, then he needs to examine his contribution to this situation over the past 20 years.   However, if he really intended to say there are only eight to 10 teachers in whom he finds theological agreement, then we are indeed better off than … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor   It used to be that the scary question for parents was - "It’s 11 o’clock - do you know where your children are?"   It is time to amend the thought.   Now, it seems the question should read - "The television is on - do you know what your children are watching?"   Chances are, sex is involved, a new study indicates. It used to be that the scary question for parents was - "It’s 11 o’clock - do you know where your children are?"   It is time to amend the thought.   Now, it seems the question should read - "The television is on - do you know what your children are watching?"   Chances are, sex is involved, a new study indicates.   Indeed, there has been a significant increase in the number of television shows with sexual content during the last two years, the "Sex on TV: Content and Context" study shows.   And in case anyone thinks to argue that the content may be positive, the study also shows that just one in ten of the shows in question includes a reference to safer sex or to the possible risks and responsibilities of sex.   In other words, television is selling a … [Read more...]

For the week of March 8, 2001 Potpourri •MONROE - Calvary church: Baptist Heritage Conference; March 16-17, 6:30 p.m.; March 18, 9 a.m.; Tom Nettles and Joe Nesom, speakers; Bill Robertson, pastor.   •MONROE - Seeker Springs Ministries: Bible Conference; March 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.; March 10, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; cost is $15 per person (covers all study materials and refeshments); Bob Utley, conference leader; for information or for reservations, contact Terry Slawson at (318) 249-4495.   •NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Theological Seminary: preview weekend; March 8-10; for information or for registration forms, call the Office of Student Enlistment at 1-800-662-8701, ext. 3303.   •SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: Testify in concert; March 11, 10:45 a.m.; Gary Melanson, minister of music; Irvin Boudreaux, pastor.   •SHREVEPORT - Broadmoor church: Jim Cole in concert; March 16, 7:30 p.m.; sponsored by single adult ministry; Jim Ewing, minister with single adults; Chuck Pourciau, pastor.   •UNION HILL - Union Hill church: congregational singing; March 10, 7 p.m.; Sherman Busby, pastor.   •WASHINGTON - Washington mission: Triumphant Singers in concert and Wayne … [Read more...]

Look in the dictionary for the definition of "irony" and you could see this commercial mailing selling crosses. The Random House College Dictionary says irony is "a figure of speech in which the words express a meaning that is often the direct opposite of the intended meaning." The definition that arrived on this editor’s desk through some quirk of fate is, "Special Church Crosses to help revive the Spirit of Christ in the world for the next millennium." Look in the dictionary for the definition of "irony" and you could see this commercial mailing selling crosses. The Random House College Dictionary says irony is "a figure of speech in which the words express a meaning that is often the direct opposite of the intended meaning." The definition that arrived on this editor’s desk through some quirk of fate is, "Special Church Crosses to help revive the Spirit of Christ in the world for the next millennium." Some enterprising manufacturer in Brisbane, Australia, mass mailed packets of material advertising crosses made from trees that are more than 2000 years old. The brochure says the trees were "preserved by an act of God." The wood for the crosses was "discovered, buried beneath the ground, during the development … [Read more...]

Frenzied people with hectic schedules might believe they deserve a quick trip to a fast food restaurant. But nothing could be further from the truth, warned Tommy Yessick, wellness consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Frenzied people with hectic schedules might believe they deserve a quick trip to a fast food restaurant. But nothing could be further from the truth, warned Tommy Yessick, wellness consultant for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Busy people need to eat right. "You can eat some of what you want if you eat all of what you should," Yessick told a group of ministers at LifeWay Glorieta (N.M.) Conference Center. "You are made up of one hundred trillion cells, and those one hundred trillion cells like to be happy. If your cells are happy, you are more likely to fight off disease and make it through hard and stressful times," Yessick said. Cells are impacted in four ways. One is a healthy balance between activity and rest, Yessick explained. Another is good nutrition. "What you put in your mouth today impacts your cells for the next 48 to 72 hours," Yessick said. Third is stress management, he said. "Put stress in its proper … [Read more...]

C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor Deborah Jensen recalls a missions presentation that emphasized the need for persons to give their lives to sharing the gospel with others around the world. "I said, ‘God, where are all those people - and why don’t they go?’And God said, ‘Why don’t you go?’ " Deborah Jensen recalls a missions presentation that emphasized the need for persons to give their lives to sharing the gospel with others around the world. "I said, ‘God, where are all those people - and why don’t they go?’And God said, ‘Why don’t you go?’ " Frida Robles speaks of a dream she had over the course of several days. It haunted her - images of people going down a dark hole without knowing Jesus Christ. Joel Schlect tells of the moment he heard God ask him, "Are you willing to weep over the lost?" Jennifer Waldrep simply explains: "Life is short. I want mine to count for God’s kingdom." Meanwhile, Nick Evans tells of a worship service about a year ago, when he heard God say to him, "Now." For Evans and dozens of others, "now" came last week as they were commissioned to international missions service during a service at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. "This is like a big celebration," Pastor … [Read more...]