Her name is not given - nor is her location exactly. All that one learns from the accompanying information is that the woman is one of the 20 million Isaan people who live in northeastern Thailand.   The information also explains that the Isaan region is the poorest in Thailand, a region beset with difficulties and despair - AIDS, drugs, poverty, a lack of hope. Her name is not given - nor is her location exactly. All that one learns from the accompanying information is that the woman is one of the 20 million Isaan people who live in northeastern Thailand.   The information also explains that the Isaan region is the poorest in Thailand, a region beset with difficulties and despair - AIDS, drugs, poverty, a lack of hope.   The Isaan people live in spiritual darkness. They rely on works to gain spiritual favor and on sacrifices to appease the spirits of good and evil. Fewer than 1 percent of them are Christian. Family pressure helps keep it that way - members fear that embracing Christianity will anger the spirits.   Gospel work among the people is painstakingly slow - and built on relationships built in a variety of ways. Practical, helpful, needed ministry is the … [Read more...]

On the one hand, poll after poll and survey after survey show that Americans are a religious people.   On the other hand, real questions linger about whether that is making any difference in the way they live their lives.   Add another log to that particular fire. On the one hand, poll after poll and survey after survey show that Americans are a religious people.   On the other hand, real questions linger about whether that is making any difference in the way they live their lives.   Add another log to that particular fire.   A recent Gallup poll shows that while American teenagers say they are religious, they tend to rely more on themselves than God and religious teachings when it comes to making decisions and how to conduct their lives.   And while they fare better on that particular question, American adults still come across as relatively self-focused.   Studies show that most American teenagers say they believe in God, consider themselves to be religious, pray often and attend church regularly, the September 2000 issue of the "Emerging Trends" newsletter reports. The newsletter is published by Princteon Religion Research Center and … [Read more...]

Voters in seven states sent a good news-bad news signal to gambling opponents regarding the future of the practice last week.   The good news came from three states where voters dealt organized gambling stinging defeats. The bad news came in four states where gambling proponents prevailed. Voters in seven states sent a good news-bad news signal to gambling opponents regarding the future of the practice last week.   The good news came from three states where voters dealt organized gambling stinging defeats. The bad news came in four states where gambling proponents prevailed.   The good news:   • Maine voters rejected a measure that would have allowed 1,500 video gambling machines at a horse racetrack. Opponents feared passage would open the door for video gambling machines to spread statewide. The gambling measure was defeated on a 60 percent-to-40 percent vote.   • A ballot initiative in a West Virginia county to allow casino-type gambling at a historic resort was defeated by a two-to-one margin. Gambling interests poured $1.1 million into an effort to pass the measure. Opponents spent only $20,814 in their efforts to win the vote, which was viewed as a test … [Read more...]

Even as all eyes were on the incredibly tight presidnential race last week, voters in several states were deciding key moral and social issues.   A review of state initiatives and propositions reveals key votes on pressing concerns, including: Even as all eyes were on the incredibly tight presidnential race last week, voters in several states were deciding key moral and social issues.   A review of state initiatives and propositions reveals key votes on pressing concerns, including:   •Pro-life issues   Maine voters narrowly rejected an assisted suicide measure that said "a terminally ill adult, who is of sound mind, (should) be allowed to ask for and receive a doctor’s help to die." The measure was defeated on a vote of 321,901 (51 percent) to 303,201 (49 percent).   "This is a hopeful sign," said Ben Mitchell, consultant for biomedical and life issues with the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "If both Oregon (which allows assisted suicide) and Maine had legalized the practice, they would have set up bookends on either side of the nation and the culture of death would have made its push toward the heartland."   Meanwhile, … [Read more...]

Who wants to be a millionaire? Answer this question - when is the last time a Louisiana Baptist Convention was held and no resolutions were passed?   The answer? Last week. Who wants to be a millionaire? Answer this question - when is the last time a Louisiana Baptist Convention was held and no resolutions were passed?   The answer? Last week.   It was not that Louisiana Baptists had nothing to say. It was not that the state Resolutions Committee had not proposed statements on issues of concerns.   No. It simply was that when time came for resolutions to be considered - not enough messengers were present to consider them.   Convention rules require that one-fourth of registered convention messengers be present in order to conduct business.   Unfortunately, as the final session of last week’s annual convention drew to a close, the number of messengers present had dwindled drastically.   Indeed, all agreed that a quorum was not present, which meant fewer than 550 of the almost 2,200 registered messengers had left the meeting. Thus, reports could be received from the Louisiana Baptist history committee, the state arrangements committee or the … [Read more...]

A Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board member announced a plan last week designed to change the nature of the annual state pastors’ conference and ensure it is nonpolitical.   In doing so, he acknowledged the full Executive Board may be drawn into the situation at some point. A Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board member announced a plan last week designed to change the nature of the annual state pastors’ conference and ensure it is nonpolitical.   In doing so, he acknowledged the full Executive Board may be drawn into the situation at some point.   During the board’s pre-convention meeting, Scott Shaver announced formation of three groups - the Louisiana Baptist Laity Conference, the Louisiana Baptist Layman’s Network and the Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference.   All three names have been registered with the Louisiana secretary of state, said Shaver, pastor at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches and executive director of Mainstream Louisiana Baptists, a group opposed to the more conservative direction of the Southern and Louisiana Baptist conventions.   That means the name "Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference" now rests in the hands of … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist pastor Tommy French gained a second term as state convention president last week - but not in customary fashion.   Instead, it was deja vu all over again. Louisiana Baptist pastor Tommy French gained a second term as state convention president last week - but not in customary fashion.   Instead, it was deja vu all over again.   Traditionally, Louisiana Baptists have granted first-term convention presidents a second term unopposed. The only time it is believed that did not happen was in 1996, when President Michael Claunch survived a challenge to his second term on a vote of 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent.   Likewise, French also was forced to survive a challenge from fellow pastor Perry Sanders in order to gain his second term. He did so by a margin of 389 votes. French is pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Sanders is pastor at First Baptist Church of Lafayette.   The challenge was not unexpected.   Just days prior to the annual convention, the Mainstream Louisiana Baptists group announced in its publication that it would nominate persons for all three denominational offices. However, no names were released by the … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist pastors were challenged last week to fulfill the responsibility of their ministries - and look always to God for the power they need.   In a series of sermons during the 2000 Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference, speakers outlined the importance of pastors fulfilling their God-assigned tasks. Louisiana Baptist pastors were challenged last week to fulfill the responsibility of their ministries - and look always to God for the power they need.   In a series of sermons during the 2000 Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference, speakers outlined the importance of pastors fulfilling their God-assigned tasks.   About 300 persons attended the annual meeting, which was held just prior to last week’s annual Louisiana Baptist Convention. The theme of the conference was "Blow the Trumpets," based on Numbers 10:1-7.   In his address, Louisiana College Director of Church Relations Alan Hix urged pastors to allow nothing to discourage them from finishing their ministry strong.   In a message based on Hebrews 12:1-3, Hix acknowledged ministers face increased pressures and demands. "It’s easy to get knocked off track, to lose our focus."   Hix called … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers elected officers last week and approved a motion affirming the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message and ...   Oh yes, not to be forgotten, they also adopted a record state Cooperative Program budget of $22,750,000 for 2001. Louisiana Baptist Convention messengers elected officers last week and approved a motion affirming the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message and ...   Oh yes, not to be forgotten, they also adopted a record state Cooperative Program budget of $22,750,000 for 2001.   In addition, messengers spent much of their miscellaneous business session in debate and discussion of wording changes to convention documents.   However, messengers adopted the record budget goal without discussion or dissent, easily affirming the most ambitious financial goal the state convention ever has set.   The approved goal marks the fifth-straight budget increase for the convention - and represents a jump of $1,250,000 (5.8 percent) from the current year.   It includes $250,000 to be taken "off the top" for health care premium increases. Once that amount is removed, percentages in the budget remain relatively unchanged. Overall, 35 … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist messengers made a clear choice last week - voting to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as their convention’s statement of faith.   Messengers approved a motion affirming the 2000 version of the confessional statement on a vote of 1,112 (56.4 percent) to 860 (43.6 percent). Louisiana Baptist messengers made a clear choice last week - voting to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as their convention’s statement of faith.   Messengers approved a motion affirming the 2000 version of the confessional statement on a vote of 1,112 (56.4 percent) to 860 (43.6 percent).   The ballot vote came after brief but impassioned debate and after a show-of-ballots vote was ruled too close to call.   As expected, the issue arose at the start of the convention’s business session.   "I move that the Louisiana Baptist Convention adopt the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement approved by the Southern Baptist Convention in June of this year as the statement of faith of our convention and that it be printed in our Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual each year," Michael Claunch announced from a floor microphone. Claunch is pastor at First … [Read more...]