After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee. After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee.   The actions mark the most severe reallocation of funds by a state Baptist convention since the launch of the Cooperative Program in 1925. Proponents of the … [Read more...]

After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee. After weeks of point and counterpoint, Texas Baptists took less than an hour to approve reduced funding for some Southern Baptist Convention entities.   By an estimated three-to-one margin, messengers to the recent Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved recommendations that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January, defund the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and eliminate all but $10,000 in annual funding for the SBC Executive Committee.   The actions mark the most severe reallocation of funds by a state Baptist convention since the launch of the Cooperative Program in 1925. Proponents … [Read more...]

The focus of the recent Louisiana Baptist Fall Collegiate Conference was unmistakably clear - prayer.   The theme of the meeting made it clear - "When you pray ..."   And the presentations by speaker Jeff Lewis made it clear as well. In his address, the professor of missiology from Riverside, Calif., emphasized the importance of prayer in everyday life to more than 700 Louisiana Baptist students gathered for the annual conference in Alexandria. The focus of the recent Louisiana Baptist Fall Collegiate Conference was unmistakably clear - prayer.   The theme of the meeting made it clear - "When you pray ..."   And the presentations by speaker Jeff Lewis made it clear as well. In his address, the professor of missiology from Riverside, Calif., emphasized the importance of prayer in everyday life to more than 700 Louisiana Baptist students gathered for the annual conference in Alexandria.   But the conference was not all talk about prayer, explained John Moore, Baptist Collegiate Ministries director for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.   "A great majority of the time was spent actually praying while Jeff led," Moore noted, adding that emphasis was given … [Read more...]

Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. A highlight of the Founder’s Day service was presentation of the chairs and professorships – as well as the awarding of two Trustees’ Distinguished Service Awards. The trustee awards are presented annually to select individuals for exceptional service to the church, outstanding achievement in the arts and exemplary service to philanthropy toward Louisiana College. This year, school trustees bestowed service awards on Sellers Aycock and Joe Smith Jr., both of whom are alumni of Louisiana College. Aycock is a Louisiana … [Read more...]

When the Jena Band of Choctaws decided they wanted to open a casino, they began looking for land in Natchitoches and Rapides parishes.   Negotiations failed in both areas.   Now, the tribe apparently is turning its attention to Sabine and DeSoto parishes. Sabine River Authority Executive Director Linda Curtis-Sparks recently acknowledged she has been asked to identify available land in both locales. When the Jena Band of Choctaws decided they wanted to open a casino, they began looking for land in Natchitoches and Rapides parishes.   Negotiations failed in both areas.   Now, the tribe apparently is turning its attention to Sabine and DeSoto parishes. Sabine River Authority Executive Director Linda Curtis-Sparks recently acknowledged she has been asked to identify available land in both locales.   However, the possibility of such a development has not set well with members of the Sabine Parish police jury. Jury members voted 6-2 late last month to oppose a land-based casino in their area.   Jury members acknowledged their action is early and intended to be preemptive.   Indeed, for the Jena tribe to be able to open a casino, they must … [Read more...]

Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. Nine Louisiana College faculty members were awarded named chairs or professorships during recent Founder’s Day ceremonies at the school. The Louisiana Baptist school celebrated its 94th year of service to Christian higher education during annual ceremonies on the Pineville campus last month. The Louisiana Baptist school was founded in 1906. A highlight of the Founder’s Day service was presentation of the chairs and professorships – as well as the awarding of two Trustees’ Distinguished Service Awards. The trustee awards are presented annually to select individuals for exceptional service to the church, outstanding achievement in the arts and exemplary service to philanthropy toward Louisiana College. This year, school trustees bestowed service awards on Sellers Aycock and Joe Smith Jr., both of whom are alumni of Louisiana College. Aycock is a Louisiana … [Read more...]

By the time this issue of the Baptist Message begins "hitting the street," or mailboxes in our case, the first Louisiana Baptist Convention of the New Millennium will be history. This article, however, is written just before the Annual Meeting. By the time this issue of the Baptist Message begins "hitting the street," or mailboxes in our case, the first Louisiana Baptist Convention of the New Millennium will be history. This article, however, is written just before the Annual Meeting.   Regardless of what happens at this year’s convention, and there will surely be an abundance of happenings, the secular press will highlight whatever controversy occurs. The media seeks what is different - whatever sells papers and gains viewers. Before we are unjustly hard on the media, we must remember that they produce those kinds of materials because the public buys it more than they buy noncontroversial material.   What will likely be completely overlooked by the media, and even some Louisiana Baptists, is the remarkable commitment of Louisiana Baptists to fulfill the Great Commission. Louisiana Baptists’ commitment to Jesus’ Great Command has been and will be the glue that holds this state convention … [Read more...]

Think of Siamese twins joined at the heart - and at the feet and at the hands and at the head. Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., and "missions" even connect solidly at the checkbook. Think of Siamese twins joined at the heart - and at the feet and at the hands and at the head. Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., and "missions" even connect solidly at the checkbook.   Each year, up to 500 members of the church participate in mission trips that reach across town, across the state and across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The church pays half the expense for each team member - an average outlay of $1,000 per person. However, since a heavy majority of Calvary’s Sunday School teachers have been on the trips, the payoff is that the missions mandate threaded throughout Scripture gets plenty of attention in their classes.   Pastor Mark Corts readily and steadily preaches on the mandate as well. Missions pastor Francis Smith coordinates and "inspirates" the opportunities and responses. Each returning team is given a prominent platform to report on its trip.   "I believe and preach that a church should be ‘a whole body for the whole world,’ " Corts explains. "I … [Read more...]

On the one hand, there is singing, laughter, jokes as they work and the most hilarious revelers during the Thai New Year celebration.   On the other hand, there is poverty, constantly moving to find work, despair and hard, monotonous jobs. On the one hand, there is singing, laughter, jokes as they work and the most hilarious revelers during the Thai New Year celebration.   On the other hand, there is poverty, constantly moving to find work, despair and hard, monotonous jobs.   These two extremes reflect one people - the 20 million Isaan of northeastern Thailand, a people group lost in spiritual darkness. Indeed, monks chant repeatedly at Isaan funerals: "There is no hope, only suffering ... Dead, never to arise."   However, in the midst of such darkness, four Southern Baptist missionary couples and a few nationals are working to bring the light of Jesus to the Isaan people.   Buddhism teaches the Isaan that good works and countless reincarnations will release them from this world’s suffering, missionary Mark Caldwell explains. Animism leads them to make offerings to spirits for protection from evil or in gratitude for blessings received.   The Isaan … [Read more...]

Editor’s Note: December 3-10 has been set as the Week of Prayer for International Missions and the International Mission Study in Southern Baptist churches. It also represents a time of emphasis for the annual Lottie Moon Christimas Offering for International Missions. This year’s offering goal is $115 million to provide funding for some 5,000 international missionaries. The theme of this year’s emphasis is "The Unfinished Task: Dispelling the Darkness." The following articles and photos all relate to ongoing international missions work and the upcoming emphasis. Editor’s Note: December 3-10 has been set as the Week of Prayer for International Missions and the International Mission Study in Southern Baptist churches. It also represents a time of emphasis for the annual Lottie Moon Christimas Offering for International Missions. This year’s offering goal is $115 million to provide funding for some 5,000 international missionaries. The theme of this year’s emphasis is "The Unfinished Task: Dispelling the Darkness." The following articles and photos all relate to ongoing international missions work and the upcoming emphasis.   She used to grope in the darkness for something to hold onto - but now, Hale … [Read more...]