A team of Louisiana Baptists learned an old truth this summer - just because a country has a rich Christian heritage does not mean the nation is a Christian one or that the people even know who Christ is.   That truth was reinforced with members of a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary missions team that traveled to the nation of Wales this summer.   "So much of what I saw in Wales was completely dead to Christ," says Rebecca Pounds, daughter of team leaders Jerry and Bayne Pounds, both professors at the Southern Baptist seminary. A team of Louisiana Baptists learned an old truth this summer - just because a country has a rich Christian heritage does not mean the nation is a Christian one or that the people even know who Christ is.   That truth was reinforced with members of a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary missions team that traveled to the nation of Wales this summer.   "So much of what I saw in Wales was completely dead to Christ," says Rebecca Pounds, daughter of team leaders Jerry and Bayne Pounds, both professors at the Southern Baptist seminary.   Pounds and her teammates found that many Welsh people had never heard about God or his love … [Read more...]

By Tony Cartledge North Carolina Biblical Recorder       The Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board is enjoying record participation from volunteers engaged in short-term projects - but some volunteers are confused by a new strategy that discourages the construction of mission churches. The Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board is enjoying record participation from volunteers engaged in short-term projects - but some volunteers are confused by a new strategy that discourages the construction of mission churches.   The missions agency reports that 26,741 volunteers were involved in overseas ministry during the past church year, more than double the number of six years ago. This year, the number is expected to top 30,000.   However, the surge in volunteers comes at a time when the International Mission Board is implementing a new field strategy that will steer short-term teams away from church construction projects, a favored activity among many volunteers. The agency’s annual report for this year notes that the new focus is on the development of church-planting movements."   "The board’s main objective is presenting the … [Read more...]

Australian church groups are appalled that several dozen "drag queens" are expected to participate in the official closing ceremony of the upcoming Sydney Olympics, an Internet news source reports.   Church group leaders are insisting the involvement of men dressed as women, the church groups say, does little to enhance the city or the Games, reports CNSNews.com, an Internet news site. Meanwhile, Christians have been prohibited from openly displaying their faith, the site notes. Australian church groups are appalled that several dozen "drag queens" are expected to participate in the official closing ceremony of the upcoming Sydney Olympics, an Internet news source reports.   Church group leaders are insisting the involvement of men dressed as women, the church groups say, does little to enhance the city or the Games, reports CNSNews.com, an Internet news site. Meanwhile, Christians have been prohibited from openly displaying their faith, the site notes.   While the Olympics opening ceremony always is a guarded secret, the closing event usually provides the host city and country a chance to showcase their traditions and cultures.   Along with such Australian symbols as … [Read more...]

Where there is a will, there is a way - that is what Mississippi Baptist leaders are saying when it comes to getting the Ten Commandments into schools.   While legal battles rage about the posting of the Ten Commandments in public locations, the Mississippi Baptist Convention youth ministry team quietly has come up with a way for Christian teenagers to display the commandments and also share their faith with lost friends and classmates. Where there is a will, there is a way - that is what Mississippi Baptist leaders are saying when it comes to getting the Ten Commandments into schools.   While legal battles rage about the posting of the Ten Commandments in public locations, the Mississippi Baptist Convention youth ministry team quietly has come up with a way for Christian teenagers to display the commandments and also share their faith with lost friends and classmates.   It is as simple as a trendy bookcover.   The Ten Commandments - along with the messages of God’s love and the plan of salvation - are prominently displayed on the bookcovers and can be utilized in witnessing to fellow students.   The youth ministry team spent five months designing the materials. … [Read more...]

On the last day of August, the headlines in the local newspaper noted the troubling rise in sexually-transmitted diseases among young people in Louisiana.   Just a week or so earlier, the newspaper carried an article about the disturbing level of poverty in the Bayou State, especially among its children. On the last day of August, the headlines in the local newspaper noted the troubling rise in sexually-transmitted diseases among young people in Louisiana.   Just a week or so earlier, the newspaper carried an article about the disturbing level of poverty in the Bayou State, especially among its children.   And a current magazine article tells of the frustrating level of illiteracy in the state, where more than one-fourth of residents cannot read or write at a functioning level.   Welcome to the challenge that is Louisiana.   Year 2000 has arrived with fanfare - but the ensuing months have maintained a troubling pattern for Louisiana. As in the past, it seems the state still lingers at the top of every undesirable ranking - and at the bottom of each positive one.   The date changes - but the scenario stays the same.   Poverty and need and the … [Read more...]

You spoke wisely and correctly in your comments in a recent edition of the "Baptist Message" when you stated that as long as there are football games there will be prayer at football games. At Jena High School public prayer on the sound system has long been a tradition. We have not had our first home game of the year as yet and I do not know if the tradition will continue or not. PRAYER WILL! You spoke wisely and correctly in your comments in a recent edition of the "Baptist Message" when you stated that as long as there are football games there will be prayer at football games. At Jena High School public prayer on the sound system has long been a tradition. We have not had our first home game of the year as yet and I do not know if the tradition will continue or not. PRAYER WILL!   In two scrimmages and one jamboree held up to this date, August 26, I have been impressed as never before by the witness of the members of the Jena High Giants team kneeling, in mass, to pray both before and after the game. These prayers were initiated and led by young men on the team and not by any member of the staff. I am happy to say that members of local Southern Baptist Churches are among the leaders of this prayer … [Read more...]

Ministers and small church staffs are invited to use the facilities at the Gloster Arboretum in Gloster, Miss., for a place of retreat, study and relaxation. The Arboretum, operated by the John James Audubon Foundation, is located just south of the small town of Gloster in southwest, Miss. Ministers and small church staffs are invited to use the facilities at the Gloster Arboretum in Gloster, Miss., for a place of retreat, study and relaxation. The Arboretum, operated by the John James Audubon Foundation, is located just south of the small town of Gloster in southwest, Miss. The site includes a large, roomy three-bedroom, two-bath, fully-furnished house, sitting on the edge of 350 acres of beautiful woodlands that contains a nice collection of magnolias, azaleas, hollies and other introduced and native plants. The arboretum is located 65 miles from Baton Rouge and approximately 50 miles from Natchez.   Available on a first-come basis, there is no charge for the use of the house. For additional information on the arboretum and reserving the house, contact Dr. Neil G. Odenwald at (225) 343-8504.   Neil Odenwald, President John James Audubon Foundationfrom Natchez … [Read more...]

There is a possible source of additional income for ministers whose churches have not caught onto the fact that we are living in the 21st century or who have not allowed ministers’ salaries to reflect 21st century prices and expenses. I saw the classified advertisement in a newspaper and thought immediately of the aptitude of Baptist ministers for the job. There is a possible source of additional income for ministers whose churches have not caught onto the fact that we are living in the 21st century or who have not allowed ministers’ salaries to reflect 21st century prices and expenses. I saw the classified advertisement in a newspaper and thought immediately of the aptitude of Baptist ministers for the job.   Ministers are well-equipped for this work by experience and often by temperament. Youth ministers may be especially suited. However, a minister who wants this extra work must be able to travel to Hollywood, Fla.   The pay is $12 an hour plus health and life insurance, which may be especially attractive if the minister’s church does not provide these benefits. A minister may be able to come out ahead financially with this job, which could be quite a change from his position with a … [Read more...]

The Baptist Message recently joined the Internet community with the establishment of its own website at BaptistMessage.com.   "Our new website is up and operational," said Lynn P. Clayton, editor of the state Baptist newspaper. "We are delighted to offer this new service to our readers who are literally around the world." The Baptist Message recently joined the Internet community with the establishment of its own website at BaptistMessage.com.   "Our new website is up and operational," said Lynn P. Clayton, editor of the state Baptist newspaper. "We are delighted to offer this new service to our readers who are literally around the world."   The webside has been operational for two months, but Clayton said the announcement of the website was not made until policies for its operation had been established by trustees, and the paper’s staff had made sure "all the bugs were worked out."   All the latest Louisiana news and feature articles including People/Places/Events will be posted at the site each Tuesday. In addition, selected Southern Baptist Convention news and features will be posted.   "Posting the Baptist Message weekly will serve several purposes," Clayton … [Read more...]

'Christian gear' is everywhere - on tee-shirts, bumper stickers, caps. How effective are they? 'Christian gear' is everywhere - on tee-shirts, bumper stickers, caps. How effective are they?   Scene 1: Ancient Rome. Two strangers meet on a dusty road. Miles pass in polite conversation. Slowly and cautiously, oblique references to religious ideas are offered . Both sense a spiritual kinship but are wary of mentioning it. After all, Christianity is a crime punishable by death.   The sun is high and hot, so they stop to rest. The discussion moves from the latest war news to the price of bread to problems of the Roman Senate. The younger man pushes his walking stick through the dust as he talks, tracing a gently curved line.   The older man glances at the mark, then into the eyes of his new acquaintance and quickly around to see if anyone else is watching. With his own staff he draws a mirror image of the first mark, connecting the lines at one end but intersecting at the other. The two lines together form a crude drawing of a fish, a word used as an acronym in the underground sect’s ancient Greek language for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."   "He is risen!" exclaims … [Read more...]