The name of the church was Almighty God Tabernacle, a strange name some might think. It was late on a Saturday night, and the pastor of this tabernacle sat at his desk at the church, refining the next days sermon. He suddenly decided to call home to check on his wife. He dialed the number and listened to the phone ring ... and ring ... and ring. Surely, he had called the wrong number, he thought. Where else would his wife be on a Saturday night? The name of the church was Almighty God Tabernacle, a strange name some might think. It was late on a Saturday night, and the pastor of this tabernacle sat at his desk at the church, refining the next days sermon. He suddenly decided to call home to check on his wife. He dialed the number and listened to the phone ring ... and ring ... and ring. Surely, he had called the wrong number, he thought. Where else would his wife be on a Saturday night? He called the number again and found his wife at the other end of the line. He laughed when he thought about the person he must have disturbed so late in the evening. Not long after, the pastor received a call from a man who wondered if a phone call had … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptists must refocus, leaders emphasize
First, the bad news - Louisiana Baptists closed 2001 with Cooperative Program receipts lower than the previous year and $1.3 million behind budget. Next, the worse news - Louisiana Baptists ended the most-recent year with a report showing statewide baptisms had slipped to their lowest level in 12 years. Finally, the obvious news - something has to change ... significantly. "Weve lost our focus on evangelism and on doing the Great Commission," Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster warned. First, the bad news - Louisiana Baptists closed 2001 with Cooperative Program receipts lower than the previous year and $1.3 million behind budget. Next, the worse news - Louisiana Baptists ended the most-recent year with a report showing statewide baptisms had slipped to their lowest level in 12 years. Finally, the obvious news - something has to change ... significantly. "Weve lost our focus on evangelism and on doing the Great Commission," Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Dean Doster warned. Year-end figures serve as evidence, Doster and LBC Evangelism Director Wayne Jenkins … [Read more...]
Weekly Briefs
For the week of January 17, 2002 Briefs Lottie Moon churches The Southern Baptist International Mission Board recently recognized the top 100 churches that gave through the 2000 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. The top contributor was Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., which gave $399,064 through the annual offering. Five other churches gave more than $200,000. One Louisiana Baptist church made the top 100 list. Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport gave $100,348.70 through the 2000 offering, ranking it as the 49th-highest contributor. Chuck Pourciau is pastor. Granberry dedication The Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home recently dedicated a Granberry Counseling Center in Vidalia, marking yet another addition to the statewide ministry program of the agency. The counseling centers work to address individual concerns as well as family issues for Louisiana Baptists and others. The centers also serve as a resource for Louisiana Baptist pastors and churches by providing seminars and retreats on various topics. Fees at the centers are based on income and ability to pay, with all appointments confidential. For more information, persons may call (877) 345-7411 or by visiting the … [Read more...]
Churches must preach – and teach – about money
Surprised? Americans are giving a smaller percentage of their incomes to churches. If that bit of news from Religious News Service surprises you, you have not been watching the receipts at local churches. In the vast majority of churches, gifts have not kept pace with members income. Surprised? Americans are giving a smaller percentage of their incomes to churches. If that bit of news from Religious News Service surprises you, you have not been watching the receipts at local churches. In the vast majority of churches, gifts have not kept pace with members income. According to a study conducted by John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, entitled "The State of Church Giving Through 1999," church members donated 2.58 percent of their income to their churches in 1999. That amount is down 17 percent from 1968 when giving was 3.1 percent. Admittedly, the larger 3.1 percent is little to brag about, but when one realizes all members of the 29 denominations studied were averaged, the figure looks a tad better. Some folks are giving very well to bring up the average with those who give the most common annual gift - less than 10 dollars. Perhaps the shocker of the article is that in the depth of the … [Read more...]
‘Accidental porn’ ( Article Two )
Christian ministries inadvertently are becoming purveyors of smut as pornographers "hijack" expired Web sites, either to lure unsuspecting visitors to pornographic sites or to earn a profit by selling the URL back to its original owner at an inflated price. The Indiana Baptist state newspaper is one of the latest victims of a scheme that has affected various Christian ministries, non-profit organizations, government agencies and political leaders. Christian ministries inadvertently are becoming purveyors of smut as pornographers "hijack" expired Web sites, either to lure unsuspecting visitors to pornographic sites or to earn a profit by selling the URL back to its original owner at an inflated price. The Indiana Baptist state newspaper is one of the latest victims of a scheme that has affected various Christian ministries, non-profit organizations, government agencies and political leaders. Six months after the Indianapolis-based paper moved its content to a new Web site - www.scbi.org - it gave up its rights to a former domain name. The day the old URL became available, porn appeared on it. Registered to a person supposedly living in an obscure location in … [Read more...]
‘Accidental porn’ ( Article One )
Accidental porn: In the wild world of the Internet, it is becoming more and more difficult to avoid pornography Some 70 percent of American teenagers have "accidentally" encountered pornography on the Internet, a recent poll indicates. That has many observers concerned. Accidental porn: In the wild world of the Internet, it is becoming more and more difficult to avoid pornography Some 70 percent of American teenagers have "accidentally" encountered pornography on the Internet, a recent poll indicates. That has many observers concerned. "Clearly, there is a major failure in adult responsibility when almost three out of four teens report they have accidentally come across pornography on the Web," Morality in Media President Robert Peters said. "But the biggest failure of responsibility lies with federal and state prosecutors who turn a blind eye to obscenity on the Internet. "If obscenity laws were being vigorously enforced, the last thing hardcore pornographers would want to do is draw attention to their vile wares by engaging in reckless marketing methods. If vigorously enforced, there would also be much less pornography to accidentally stumble … [Read more...]
I have to face it – this face is the only one I have
Looking into a mirror is my second least-favorite viewing, ranking only slightly above photographs that include my likeness. Honestly, I just do not like having to admit to myself that I am as common looking as I am. Mind you, I do not mind being unattractive; I just do not like being visually confronted with that fact. I have to face it this face is the only one I have Looking into a mirror is my second least-favorite viewing, ranking only slightly above photographs that include my likeness. Honestly, I just do not like having to admit to myself that I am as common looking as I am. Mind you, I do not mind being unattractive; I just do not like being visually confronted with that fact. I have never forced my school yearbooks upon my disinterested children and said, "Look, thats your daddy. See how handsome he was then." I dont say that because they can see. They know homely from handsome. To tell them I was handsome undermines what little credibility I have with them. Ill get to the point in a moment. Now, my brother was handsome. He cut a dashing figure during the 1950s with his greased-up ducktails and white shirts open to his, well, … [Read more...]
Questionable viewpoint
The article in the January 3, 2002 paper about the "September 11th events renew discussion of good and evil," which quotes a professor of biblical interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York is an example of superficial writing and reporting. The professor, Walter Wink, is quoted as saying that Americas actions may have at least in part provoked the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The article in the January 3, 2002 paper about the "September 11th events renew discussion of good and evil," which quotes a professor of biblical interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York is an example of superficial writing and reporting. The professor, Walter Wink, is quoted as saying that Americas actions may have at least in part provoked the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He cited ongoing United States intervention in Iraq as an example, claiming 500,000 Iraqi children have died as a result of United States policy. This writer gives no explanation of the professors statement and no reasons for his assertion. The question in my mind is why does he make this assertion, and is there any justification for his assertion? In the broad sense, this leads us to believe that … [Read more...]
Weekly Announcements
For the week of January 17, 2002 People, Places and Events 1-17 Potpourri EUNICE - Acadian center: womens conference; Jan. 25-26; Virginia Haynes, speaker; Judy Hubbs, music; call (337) 457-9047 for more information; James Newsom, camp manager. BOYCE - Henry Blackaby, featured speaker, author of "Experiencing God," to speak at First church; Jan. 26, 7 p.m.; Jim Lofton, pastor. LAKE CHARLES - Trinity church: "Be All God Wants You to Be," ladies retreat, presented by Great Hills Retreat Ministry; Feb. 1-2; Phyllis Elvington, guest speaker; Kristi Brown, music; $39 for early registration; $46 for late registration; for more information call Marlene McCain at (337) 562-2333; Steve James, pastor. JENA - East Jena church: prayer conference, "How To Pray Effectively for the Lost," Jan. 26; 4 and 7 p.m. sessions, dinner at 6 p.m.; Lee Thomas, speaker; Kingdom Bound, music; for more information call (337) 992-4460; Craig James, pastor. DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: turkey hunting seminar; Feb. 9; cost is $10, includes meal; call (337) 328- 7531 for reservations; Curt Iles, camp manager. Youth DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: "Celebration at the Cross" youth … [Read more...]
The fight grows against Swaziland’s ‘hidden disease’
The young girl listens intently to the guest speaker, even as a boy sits behind her and pulls her ponytail. She turns to make a face at the boy and then adjusts the beaded band holding the ponytail in place. If her father found out a boy touched it, the girl could get in big trouble. As long as she is wearing the blue and yellow headpiece, boys and men are not supposed to touch her. The young girl listens intently to the guest speaker, even as a boy sits behind her and pulls her ponytail. She turns to make a face at the boy and then adjusts the beaded band holding the ponytail in place. If her father found out a boy touched it, the girl could get in big trouble. As long as she is wearing the blue and yellow headpiece, boys and men are not supposed to touch her. The ponytail - known as "umchwasho" (oom-chw-ah-show) - looks like a large tassel connected to a strand of beads. It announces to all persons that the girl is a virgin. The band requires girls to abstain from sex or even from kissing someone from the opposite sex. The age-old Swazi custom is back with hopes it will help eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Southern Baptist missionary … [Read more...]