Katie Vacanti-Mitchell turned 12 last April, loves the color purple, plays softball and soccer and teases her two younger brothers one minute then mothers them the next. Katie Vacanti-Mitchell turned 12 last April, loves the color purple, plays softball and soccer and teases her two younger brothers one minute then mothers them the next. She considers herself pretty ordinary. However, Vacanti-Mitchell’s world changed after her birthday when doctors diagnosed her with leukemia. The irony sobered Katie, who had spent a year growing her hair long for Locks of Love, a group that creates wigs for cancer patients from donated hair. The first night she spent in the hospital, Vacanti-Mitchell says she sat on the bathroom floor by herself, buried her face in her hands and unsuccessfully tried to muffle her sobs from her parents. “I just kept saying, ‘I don’t want to have cancer’ and ‘I just want to go home and everything be all right,’” she recalls. However, Vacanti-Mitchell did not let her sadness stick around for long. During her stay at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, she was visited by Monroe Carell Jr., founder of the medical institution and CEO of Central Parking Corp., where her dad, James, works. During … [Read more...]
Right in the middle – Bush and presidential faith
Much has been written – and suggested – about the faith of President George Bush and his expressions of it. But exactly where does Bush rank among past American presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Much has been written – and suggested – about the faith of President George Bush and his expressions of it. But exactly where does Bush rank among past American presidents in terms of public displays of religion? Well, as far as author David Aikman can tell, Bush should be placed squarely in the middle on that count. “Virtually every American president in office has either been a person of faith or a supporter of the principle that faith was a good thing,” said Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time magazine who has written a book about Bush’s Christian faith. “I think this particular president – although he has been more outspoken than most recent people in office – is absolutely in the mainstream of an important American historical tradition.” In terms of religiosity, Aikman compares the current president to Democrats Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter and to Republicans Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley. Even Thomas Jefferson – a deist – recognized the importance of religion while … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist minister in the running as ‘American Idol’ contestant
America soon will learn if a Louisiana Baptist will be named the next “American Idol.” Jonathan Murrell is a 25-year-old minister of music at First Baptist Church of Pollock. Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter America soon will learn if a Louisiana Baptist will be named the next “American Idol.” Jonathan Murrell is a 25-year-old minister of music at First Baptist Church of Pollock. He auditioned in New Orleans last summer with 10,000 other aspiring singers who hoped to land a spot on the television music reality show “American Idol.” After three days of auditions, Murrell was one of 16 contestants from those auditions chosen to advance to the next round of competition in Hollywood, Calif. New Orleans was one of seven cities that hosted a total of about 100,000 individuals who competed for 160 spots in the Hollywood round, which is currently on Fox television network. After two more weeks of competition – which was taped last year – the field will be narrowed to 24 contestants. Then, the show will be shown live on Fox, where, each week, viewers will vote via telephone calls and cellular telephone text messaging for the contestants they wish to remain in the competition. Murrell characterized the … [Read more...]
Generation M is on the scene – and changing America, author says
Now, one can add a new designation to Generation X and Generation Y – Generation M. It is the missionary generation, a fast-growing group of young adults emerging from religious colleges who are engaging the culture with values and perspectives counter to the typical secular student. Now, one can add a new designation to Generation X and Generation Y – Generation M. It is the missionary generation, a fast-growing group of young adults emerging from religious colleges who are engaging the culture with values and perspectives counter to the typical secular student. At least, that is how Naomi Schaefer Riley sees things. In her new book, “God on the Quad: How Religious Colleges and the Missionary Generation Are Changing America,” Riley explains what she learned from visiting 20 religious colleges in 2001 and 2002. The visits revealed some significant ways Generation M students are set apart, said Riley, who has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications. “They reject the spiritually-empty education of secular schools,” she said. “They refuse to accept the sophisticated ennui of their contemporaries. “They snub the ‘spiritual but not religious’ attitude,” Riley … [Read more...]
Hankins ready to lead LBC in kingdom advance
David Hankins acknowledged that some people shy away from using military terms and imagery these days. But when it comes to talking about the task confronting Louisiana Baptists, he is not one of them. C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor David Hankins acknowledged that some people shy away from using military terms and imagery these days. But when it comes to talking about the task confronting Louisiana Baptists, he is not one of them. “We are in the God’s army,” emphasized Hankins, who assumed full responsibility as Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director at the start of February. That means it falls to every Louisiana Baptist to “recognize that they have been enlisted in the army of the Lord Jesus, and they are to advance his kingdom,” he added. Every soldier is responsible – and the most important thing individual Louisiana Baptists can do at this time is focus on their own lives and answer God’s claim on them as participants in the kingdom of God, Hankins said. Growing the kingdom of God and moving it forward in Louisiana are key themes for Hankins as he assumes the helm of the state convention this month. He was elected to the position unanimously last fall, leaving a top … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of February 14, 2005 LBC finances Louisiana Baptists opened 2005 with a total of $1,889,107 in state Cooperative Program gifts, a decrease of $216,280 (10.3 percent) from the previous January. Nevertheless, the total still stands almost $56,000 ahead of monthly budget needs, launching the year on a positive note. In other areas of Louisiana Baptist giving: • Gifts through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions totaled almost $1.7 million last month, a drop of $34,000 (2 percent) from the previous January. The offering runs on a June 1-to-May 31 basis each year. With four months remaining in the 2004 offering, Louisiana Baptists gifts total almost $2.7 million, a decrease of $125,000 (4.5 percent) from the same time last year. • Gifts through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions totaled $136,046 last month, an increase of $32,000 (30.9 percent) from the previous January. The offering runs on the calendar year. • Gifts through the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions totaled $121,356 last month, an increase of $3,200 (2.7 percent) from the previous January. The offering runs on the calendar year. • Gifts through the Southern Baptist World … [Read more...]
Who holds sway? Southern Baptists top list of those influencing the church
A pair of Southern Baptists hold the most sway – or influence – over American churches and church leaders, a new poll indicates. A pair of Southern Baptists hold the most sway – or influence – over American churches and church leaders, a new poll indicates. Evangelist Billy Graham and California pastor/author Rick Warren hold the top spots in the poll by the Barna Research Group. Surprisingly, President George Bush ranks in third place. Researcher George Barna asked American pastors to name three individuals whom they believe have the greatest influence on churches and church leaders in America. While the pastors listed more than 300 different names, just 10 persons were chosen by 4 percent or more of the ministers. Graham was chosen by 34 percent of respondents, and Warren was selected by 26 percent. Bush was named by 14 percent of pastors, while focus on the Family founder James Dobson was cited by 11 percent of survey respondents. Others on the list – in descending order – were Bill Hybels (9 percent), T.D. Jakes (7 percent), John Maxwell (6 percent), George Barna (5 percent), Pope John Paul II (5 percent) and Max Lucado (4 percent). Graham led among mainline, Baptist and Pentecostal pastors. … [Read more...]
Christian leaders urge greater fight against poverty
A host of Christian leaders have called on President George Bush to expand his administration’s emphasis on “overcoming hunger and poverty” – both in American and worldwide. A host of Christian leaders have called on President George Bush to expand his administration’s emphasis on “overcoming hunger and poverty” – both in American and worldwide. “A dramatic reduction in poverty, both here and abroad, would honor our Lord who called us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked,” the leaders said in a January 17 letter to the president. “It would also be a wonderful legacy for you to leave with the American people and indeed the world. “Such an outcome is clearly within the reach of the richest nation in history,” the various leaders continued. “The moral values you share with us demand no less.” Signers of the letter included Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Leaders of groups such as Bread for the World, World Relief, Evangelicals for Social Action, The Salvation Army and the Assemblies of God also joined in signing the letter. Several Baptist college presidents signed as well. The letter came just prior to release of Bush’s proposed budget for 2006. … [Read more...]
He took Jesus literally – and welcomed his persecutor into his home with love
The four previous encounters between the Hindu man and the young Sri Lankan pastor had been violent. The four previous encounters between the Hindu man and the young Sri Lankan pastor had been violent. Each of those four times, Balram (not his real name) led a mob attacking Vijyaraj, the young pastor. And each time, Vijyaraj was tied up by the mob and severely beaten while his church was set ablaze. However, each time, the congregation of Heavenly Mission Harvest Church in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, rebuilt, and Vijyaraj kept preaching about Jesus. But despite that history, when the men met for a fifth time – in the horrific aftermath of Sri Lanka’s tsunami in late December – Vijyaraj lived out a sermon on Christian forgiveness. In four years since becoming the first Christian convert in his rural fishing village of 300 people – and despite the fierce and ongoing persecution of the militant Hindus – Vijyaraj has led his church to grow to include 27 families. All of the families were worshiping on the morning of Dec. 26 when the tsunami swept onto the coast of Sri Lanka. While many church members lost homes and fishing boats, not a single Christian from the village drowned, though as many as 10 of … [Read more...]
He achieved all of his goals – only to find something missing
When Jess Franks was named as a clown for the National Finals Rodeo, he thought he had reached the apex of rodeo success. When Jess Franks was named as a clown for the National Finals Rodeo, he thought he had reached the apex of rodeo success. Thousands of fans had watched him perform across the nation, and one of his acts became so popular that it was recognized in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. However, Franks says he eventually discovered that professional achievements did not translate into lasting contentment. After more than four decades of rodeo success, Franks says he found true contentment for the first time by committing his life to Jesus Christ. Today, Franks is a member at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield, N.M. But at the beginning of his rodeo career, church was the last place Franks expected to find himself. “I was raised on a ranch, and I rodeoed for a living all my life,” he says. “So, my lifestyle was drinking, dancing, fighting, carousing, just whatever I wanted to do. I had a conscience, and it bothered me but not to the extent that it slowed me down. ... “There were no holds barred for me – nothing. I tried to be nice to people, and I tried to get along with people … [Read more...]