Week of October 3, 2005 Louisiana College news The Louisiana college business programs have been awarded reaffirmation of their accreditation, school officials announced recently. Louisiana College business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. “This is another sign of the strength of our academic program,” LC President Joe Aguillard said. “This reaffirmation underscores the quality of the business curriculum.” Louisiana College is one of the smallest programs to receive the accreditation, said Bruce Cofer, interim chair of the school’s Division of Business. “It is quite an honor to be recognized nationally as a high-quality business program,” he said. For information about the school’s business programs, call (318) 487-7422. Poverty on the rise The number of Americans living in poverty rose to 37 million in 2004, an increase of 1.1 million from the previous year, Census Bureau figures indicate. The number represents 12.7 percent of the American population and marks the fourth straight increase in national poverty. Meanwhile, Census Bureau figures also indicate that household income remained flat in 2004, and the number of people without health insurance rose to … [Read more...]
Post-hurricane landscape – how is a person to cope?
He and his wife had been planning to build a home on their property in lower St. Bernard Parish. “People hear about the disaster on the news, but they can’t know the sort of wreckage it’s caused in your life or the lives around you. You see it, touch it, smell it.” International Bible Society booklet “Suffering ... cannot be explained or solved with words. ... The mystery of pain and suffering can only be answered with a life that refuses to despair, refuses to hand one more victory over to the forces of No, but instead makes itself an instrument of Yes, gives itself in love and compassion to alleviate pain and suffering. We may be driven to speculate upon, brood over, agonize over the problem of suffering, but ultimately and essentially, we are to make ourselves instruments of its alleviation. That is what Jesus did. This is what we are to do.” Edna Hong “Our challenge is to have faith – in failure, in success, in whatever life brings.” Jean Blomquist C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor He and his wife had been planning to build a home on their property in lower St. Bernard Parish. For the time being, they were living in a trailer on the … [Read more...]
From hugs to clothing, evacuees heartened at relief center
She rummages through the boxes of stuffed animals before finally settling on one. Breanne then picks up the stuffed bear, hugs it and holds it close as she continues to scour the piles of toys waiting for new owners. She rummages through the boxes of stuffed animals before finally settling on one. Breanne then picks up the stuffed bear, hugs it and holds it close as she continues to scour the piles of toys waiting for new owners. Breanne is 9 – or to be more accurate and use her own words, “Nine-and-a-half and fixing to turn 10.” Hurricane Katrina may have robbed her of all her possessions, but it did not take her joy. “If I still have my doggie and my kitty, I’m happy,” Breanne says. Fortunately for her, Breanne’s golden retriever, Daisy, and her cat, Gracie, made it through the hurricane unscathed, as did all of Breanne’s family. Still, like so many others, they were left with few earthly possessions. And so, they came to Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Slidell, a disaster relief center offering hurricane victims clothing, food and supplies – all free of charge. In the church’s parking lot, a 100-foot tent covers the boxes and racks of donated clothes that become part of the wardrobes of hurricane … [Read more...]
Disasters can be the opportunity for building a new state
Things cannot get worse for Louisiana,” many said just after Hurricane Katrina made her unwelcome visit to the southeastern part of the state. But they did: Hurricane Rita. Things cannot get worse for Louisiana,” many said just after Hurricane Katrina made her unwelcome visit to the southeastern part of the state. But they did: Hurricane Rita. The double-whammy leaves people expecting new and more encouraging words from ministers about how to make it through the pain and loss. But it seems about all that can be said was said after the first hurricane left hundreds of thousands of people fleeing angry Katrina. We may all scramble for new insights and more encouraging words and thoughts, but about all we can do is refresh our memories on what we have already heard and read. There is no question, the impact of the sister hurricane will not be known for three to five years. There was already a slow, outward migration of our citizens, but Katrina caused the largest population migration in the history of the United States and Rita apparently added to that migration. Some will return, but how many? How many businesses will leave? How many will rebuild? How long before new businesses are willing to come to … [Read more...]
Louisiana churches assess damage, count their blessings
Steve James admits it was difficult worshipping at a Monroe-area church Sept. 25. By Brian Blackwell LBM Newswriter Steve James admits it was difficult worshipping at a Monroe-area church Sept. 25. Like many other Southwest Louisianians, the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles evacuated to higher grounds before Hurricane Rita made landfall in the state on Sept. 24. However, on this particular Sunday, James wasn’t preaching from the pulpit but was worshipping with other believers, unaware of how many of his staff members and congregation fared after the hurricane. “That Sunday morning was real tough,” said James. “I already knew about the church’s condition, but I wondered how all our members were doing. I enjoyed worshiping at another church, but I wanted to be in my own church.” Trinity’s auditorium suffered the most damage. Debris, water and what is left of two stained-glass windows filled the structure soon after the hurricane passed through the Lake Charles area. James estimates it could be six to eight months before the auditorium is restored. However, the fellowship hall, student, preschool and children’s areas, church offices, and recreational building escaped major … [Read more...]
Weekly annoucements
Week of October 3, 2005 Potpourri JENA – Nebo Ball Field: “A Stirrin’ in the Sticks” area wide crusade; Oct. 16-21, 7 p.m. nightly; Jack Daniels, evangelist. WEST MONROE – McClendon church: Legacy Five in concert; Oct. 15, 7 p.m.; $10 per ticket; Rick Crandall, pastor. SHREVEPORT – Trinity Heights church: “Coffee and Tea with Starla” women’s ministry event; Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m.- 12 p.m.; $10 per ticket; deadline Oct. 12, call Ilona Davis at (318) 221-2695; Billy Crosby, pastor. ALEXANDRIA – Baptist Temple church: Southern Plainsmen in concert; Oct. 16, 6 p.m.; Bill Broadwater, pastor. DUBACH – Lincoln Parish Expo center: “Harvest for Christ” area wide crusade; Oct. 23-27, 7 p.m. nightly; Mark Lanier, music; Jack Daniels, evangelist. Homecomings HEBERT – Welcome Home church: Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m.; Bobby Ensminger, guest speaker; Bill Gueringer, pastor. FARMERVILLE – Crossroads church: Oct. 16, 10:45 a.m. with dinner on the grounds to follow; Tim Williams, guest speaker; Mark Norwood, pastor. JENA – Midway church: Oct. 9, 10:30 a.m., lunch to follow; Rick Feazell, pastor. MANIFEST – Pisgah church: 133rd; Oct. 9, 11 a.m.; Joe Cruse, guest speaker; Jesse Watkins, interim pastor. Revivals EFFIE – … [Read more...]
Trustees vote to keep seminary in New Orleans
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously to keep the seminary in New Orleans during a Sept. 27 meeting at the seminary’s temporary administrative offices in Decatur, Ga. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted unanimously to keep the seminary in New Orleans during a Sept. 27 meeting at the seminary’s temporary administrative offices in Decatur, Ga. Trustees also approved the administration’s plans to restore the main campus to normal operation by August 2006. “I am very excited about the passionate commitment of trustees to the city of New Orleans,” seminary President Chuck Kelley said of the vote. “After talking through the (issue), there was absolutely no reservation, no hesitation, that New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is and always will be New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.” The trustee board met on the seminary North Georgia campus in a called meeting last week to discuss the damage to the seminary campus and explore options for the future. From the beginning, the meeting took on a hopeful tone. Trustees discussed the question of returning to New Orleans before their vote. In the end, with awareness of the task facing the seminary, the … [Read more...]
Report urges greater Cooperative Program support
A Southern Baptist Convention task force has released a report calling for greater Cooperative Program support from leaders throughout the denomination. A Southern Baptist Convention task force has released a report calling for greater Cooperative Program support from leaders throughout the denomination. The report recently was released by the eight-member Task Force on Cooperation. It includes 13 recommendations with the goal of boosting Cooperative Program giving and improving cooperation between the national and state conventions. Chief among the recommendations is one calling on elected convention leaders to come from strong Cooperative Program churches and to be “well-known advocates” of the Cooperative Program. “Never before has the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention – from entity heads down to every Sunday School teacher and pastor – needed to sound the call for evangelism and the Cooperative Program,” SBC President Bobby Welch said. “Everybody can appreciate the heartfelt and clear message of the task force – that leadership should lead the way, in both going and giving.” Southern Baptists widely have been praised for their involvement in the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. But what … [Read more...]
His ‘recipe’ for hurricane relief is just that – recipes
When Johnny Rayford received the e-mail to Mississippi pastors requesting volunteers across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he decided he had to respond. When Johnny Rayford received the e-mail to Mississippi pastors requesting volunteers across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he decided he had to respond. Rayford immediately gathered all the equipment he would need and headed south. However, his truck was not loaded with chain saws, cleaning supplies or water. Instead, Rayford brought cooking pots, four portable gas burners, propane tanks, a pile of spices and boxes of food on the road. He then ended up at First Baptist Church of Bay St. Louis, Miss., doing one of the things he does best. Rayford serves as pastor at Crestwood Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss., and admits he is not good with a chain saw. “But I can do some cooking,” he insists. At one time, Rayford owned a Jackson restaurant called “A Little Taste of New Orleans” and was pastor of a small church. But a fire that destroyed his restaurant sent him in a new direction. He decided to be a fulltime pastor. “My restaurant was my passion,” he says. “And when it becomes your passion, it consumes you. When the restaurant burned down, I lost it all. … [Read more...]
World of religion
Week of October 10, 2005 Enabling relief work Southern Baptist International Mission Board has announced employees of that agency will be allowed five days of paid administrative leave to help in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. “Without affecting any other (paid time off) or administrative leave, you can have a full week to be involved in this disaster relief,” agency President Jerry Rankin recently told staff members. “We want to do our part.” Employees may serve with whatever organization they choose – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, the Red Cross or other teams. Without the allowance, staff who wished to be personally involved in on-site relief efforts would have had to take personal vacation time. Staff members will be eligible for the five days of paid leave as long as Katrina relief efforts continue. LC schedules lecture Louisiana College has scheduled its annual Sanders Lectureship in Biblical Studies for Oct. 18-20 at 10:50 a.m. Emir Caner, dean of the College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, will serve as the keynote speaker. The lectureship is designed to bring a Bible teacher or scholar to the campus of the Pineville school in order to lead the community in a … [Read more...]
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