For the week of November 28, 2002 Best colleges Forty-five members of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools have been listed among the nation’s best in the 2003 annual survey by U.S. News and World Report. Louisiana College was among those included in the list. It was listed 20th in the South among Best Comprehensive Colleges - Bachelor’s Degrees. Two Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools also were ranked in the top 10 of schools with the highest graduation rates. U.S. News & World Report studied more than 1,400 institutions scattered across the United States. The rankings were determined by analyzing data gathered in seven categories of information - peer assessment; graduation and retention rates; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni giving. Most influential pastor Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren appears on the cover of the Nov. 18 issue of Christianity Today, above a headline stating he may be the most influential pastor in the country. The magazine’s seven-page spread cites the influence of Warren’s "Purpose Driven" model, one that is used in churches around the globe. Warren has trained about 180,000 pastors through his "Purpose … [Read more...]

  One is the fact that the Southern Baptist doctrinal study for next year is on prayer. The second is that after state leaders had decided on their emphasis, officials from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention called to ask the state to host an "On Your Knees" prayer conference.   The conference is set for September 18-20 at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. It is designed to encourage and equip churches in prayer ministries.   • Undated activities   At least three undated resources are available for churches and associations to use in promoting prayer.   "Turning Wednesday Nights into Prayer" is a conference designed to help church staff members make mid-week services meaningful and focused on prayer.   "Praying Your Friends to Christ" is a two-hour course designed to help church members learn how to pray effectively for lost people.   "How to Pray for Your Pastor" is a resource designed to train church members to be prayer partners with their pastor.   Other prayer dates also are scheduled in 2003 that will provide churches and members with opportunities to be involved in the yearlong … [Read more...]

‘It’s time to pray' Faced with the challenging - and daunting - task of winning the state to Jesus Christ, Louisiana Baptists are focusing on the fundamental first step - a focus on prayer It reads like the story line from one of those disaster films of years past - the fate of the movement hangs in the balance, as does the fate of the state and the nation.   It sounds like hyperbole, perhaps some exaggerated ploy to drum up support for a particular cause. ‘It’s time to pray' Faced with the challenging - and daunting - task of winning the state to Jesus Christ, Louisiana Baptists are focusing on the fundamental first step - a focus on prayer   It reads like the story line from one of those disaster films of years past - the fate of the movement hangs in the balance, as does the fate of the state and the nation.   It sounds like hyperbole, perhaps some exaggerated ploy to drum up support for a particular cause.   It sounds like - well, like anything but the truth.   Guess again.   When one understands the situation facing Louisiana Baptists, there may be no other conclusion - their fate and the fate of their state do indeed hang in the … [Read more...]

Many Louisiana Baptist Message readers know the name Charles Marx because of his weekly Bibliocipher puzzles that appear in the newspaper.   And many Louisiana Baptist Message readers were saddened to learn that Marx had been diagnosed with brain cancer. As noted in a July article, the condition would force the Mississippi Baptist church member to quit producing his puzzles. Many Louisiana Baptist Message readers know the name Charles Marx because of his weekly Bibliocipher puzzles that appear in the newspaper.   And many Louisiana Baptist Message readers were saddened to learn that Marx had been diagnosed with brain cancer. As noted in a July article, the condition would force the Mississippi Baptist church member to quit producing his puzzles.   In the puzzles, Marx encodes a verse from the King James Version of the Bible, substituting each letter with another. The challenge is to solve the substitution code - and reveal the verse. (See Page Ten)   A recent update from daughter Andrea Marx reports that her father continues his daily battle with cancer but is no longer able to communicate effectively himself.   The update also notes that even as he continues … [Read more...]

Homer Mercer may have summed up his life in one sentence during a 1983 Baptist Message article - "Let my tombstone read: T.H. ‘Cooperative Program’ Mercer." Homer Mercer may have summed up his life in one sentence during a 1983 Baptist Message article - "Let my tombstone read: T.H. ‘Cooperative Program’ Mercer."   Born on the Fourth of July, 1909, Mercer was a key figure in shaping Louisiana’s Cooperative Program and instrumental in the organization of several churches in the state. Pat Lofton succeeded Mercer as Madison Association’s director of missions in 1983 and later wrote a biography, "T. Homer," about Mercer.   "Among Southern Baptist people and preachers in the state of Louisiana and especially in northeast Louisiana, the name of Homer Mercer is just about a household name," Lofton says in his book.   "He is known as a pioneer missionary, a Baptist preacher and (a) Southern Baptist leader of the highest quality.   "The name Homer Mercer is associated with good-old-home-spun humor, a thousand of the best stories and jokes that have ever been told and some of the best testimonies of church planting and work within Baptist associations," Lofton … [Read more...]

For the week of November 28, 2002 Potpourri • ENTERPRISE - New Ouachita church: Kingdom Bound in concert; Dec. 8, 5 p.m.; Alton Thompson, pastor.   • GRETNA - First church: Phillip Vandercook, guest speaker; Dec. 4, 6:45 p.m.; Kenneth Duke, pastor.   • HOUMA - Christ church: Keyboard Festival; Dec. 7, 10 a.m.; Dave Thibodeaux, interim music minister; John C. Baye Jr., pastor.   • MELVILLE - First church: Promise in concert; Dec. 1, 6 p.m.; Calvin Cantrell, pastor. Revivals • WINNSBORO - Taylor Bayou church: Dec. 1-4, 7 p.m.; Oda "Tuck" Roberts, evangelist; Jeff Robinson, pastor. Christmas Programs • WEST MONROE - McClendon church: "Meet Me at the Manger" children’s musical; Dec. 8, 6 p.m.; Janis Knight, music director; Rita Young, children’s coordinator; Rick Crandall, pastor.   • WALKER - Judson church: "Holm for Christmas" Christmas concert featuring Dallas Holm; Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.; Merelin McCon, pastor.   • GLENMORA - Pisgah church: "When Love Came Down" musical by the combined choirs of Glenmora church and Pisgah church; Dec. 8, 6 p.m.; Lanny Larche, minister of music; Billy Sutton, pastor.   • SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: "Away in a … [Read more...]

Have Southern Baptists finally emerged from the long, fearful shadows cast on September 11, 2001?   One sign will come in the next few months, when missionaries around the world begin finding out if Southern Baptist churches and parents are willing to send their youth to help them spread the gospel. Have Southern Baptists finally emerged from the long, fearful shadows cast on September 11, 2001?   One sign will come in the next few months, when missionaries around the world begin finding out if Southern Baptist churches and parents are willing to send their youth to help them spread the gospel.   Southern Baptist missionaries worldwide have requested more than 4,000 high school students to serve alongside them in 35-plus projects next year - primarily through the M-Fuge International and International World Changers programs.   The students who sign up will go to Latin America, Europe, Russia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East. They will serve on "the front lines of lostness" to find and create ways to communicate the gospel, said Kelly Davis, consultant for youth mobilization with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. "Missionaries have identified strategic ways … [Read more...]

As is the fall tradition, Baptist state conventions across the nation held annual meetings of business, inspiration and fellowship in recent weeks.   The following wrapup offers a look at some of the significant actions taken during those annual meetings. As is the fall tradition, Baptist state conventions across the nation held annual meetings of business, inspiration and fellowship in recent weeks.   The following wrapup offers a look at some of the significant actions taken during those annual meetings.   Baptist General Convention of Texas   The Baptist General Convention of Texas overwhelmingly approved formation of a missions network that supporters say will change the way Texans view missions.   Meanwhile, critics say the new organization is designed to compete with existing Southern Baptist missions agencies and eventually to send out missionaries.   The new network will match churches, associations, institutions and individuals with short-term and long-term missions opportunities across the United States and abroad.   The network will be set up as a separate, not-for-profit affiliate of the convention. Supporters say it does not … [Read more...]