MONROE – Fourteen-year-old Jim Howard probably never knew that his silver dollar given to Pine Grove Baptist Church in Bernice in 1898 would lead to the establishment of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer MONROE – Fourteen-year-old Jim Howard probably never knew that his silver dollar given to Pine Grove Baptist Church in Bernice in 1898 would lead to the establishment of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. While overhearing a conversation between Pastor William M. Cooksey and other men of the church, Howard learned of their vision of Louisiana Baptists caring for orphaned children. “Brother Cooksey, if that is what Louisiana Baptists are going to do for orphans, I want to give this dollar to help,” Howard said, as reported in James Carter’s Helping Children for 100 years: A Centennial History of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. Howard’s gift was the first money given to establish the Louisiana Baptist Orphanage, which eventually became the Children’s Home. A year later, Cooksey presented the motion at the Louisiana Baptist State Convention in Monroe to create the entity and a cash collection of $78.85 was given for the orphanage. The Louisiana … [Read more...]
CP fulfills church’s purpose
YORKTOWN, Va. (BP) – Members at Bethel Baptist Church here call their commitment to missions “glocal thinking.” Community involvement standing atop global missions and the Cooperative Program helps Bethel Yorktown achieve its purpose, Pastor Thurman Hayes said. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor YORKTOWN, Va. (BP) – Members at Bethel Baptist Church here call their commitment to missions “glocal thinking.” Community involvement standing atop global missions and the Cooperative Program helps Bethel Yorktown achieve its purpose, Pastor Thurman Hayes said. “The Cooperative Program is a way for me as a pastor to get my church, my local church, involved in God’s global purpose,” Hayes said. “What’s so exciting to me about the Cooperative Program is that it enables our local efforts to be connected to a worldwide purpose,” the pastor continued. “I tell them, ‘As you give every week you are touching every week North America and the world for Christ.’” Bethel’s commitment stands as strong as its 21 percent giving of undesignated offerings to the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s method of funding missions, missionaries and seminary training. It’s a commitment that stands as … [Read more...]
Student mobilizations prompt Sonic Flood tour
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)-Two new partnerships aimed at mobilizing students for missions have been announced by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. By Kelly Davis Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Two new partnerships aimed at mobilizing students for missions have been announced by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. The IMB will sponsor a missions mobilization tour featuring the Christian recording group Sonic Flood to at least 40 cities, beginning in September. Multimedia images of missions work, including testimonies of students working on the field, will be part of the Sonic Flood “This Generation” tour. And in partnership with Integrity Publishers, a missions-themed devotional book for students, My Life, His Mission, is slated for an Aug. 1 release. The book is the second in the “Voices of the Faithful” series launched last August featuring a collaboration by Beth Moore with Kim Davis as the compiling editor for the book’s missionary testimonies. The Sonic Flood tour “is designed for students to hear God’s purpose in their lives to reach the nations,” Mike Lopez, head of IMB student mobilization, told a crowd of more than 600 at the National Collegiate … [Read more...]
Cruise taps outdoors to spread the gospel
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Jason Cruise’s eyes light up when he starts relating stories about hooking trout in a cold mountain stream. His voice quickens describing the patience involved in outwitting and luring a tom turkey. By Russ Rankin LifeWay Communications NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Jason Cruise’s eyes light up when he starts relating stories about hooking trout in a cold mountain stream. His voice quickens describing the patience involved in outwitting and luring a tom turkey. But it’s ministry that really gets Cruise excited – ministry that connects disconnected men with their Creator God through the call of the great outdoors. Cruise, former pastor of Belmont Heights Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., founded Outdoor Ministry Network three years ago to train other churches how to develop successful outdoor ministries. Taking his sense of adventure a step further, Cruise now has joined with LifeWay Christian Resources to start a weblog (blog) to foster a sense of community among Christian outdoorsman. The blog – www.outfittingyourfaith.com – is designed as a “year in the life” format and will include Cruise’s personal adventure as he transitions from the pastorate to concentrate … [Read more...]
SBC briefs
Week of May 29, 2006 Prayer to undergird Crossover Triad GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Crossover is only a few weeks away, but Southern Baptists still have time to join in prayer initiatives for this year’s evangelistic outreach. Prayer opportunities for Crossover and the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting include prayerwalking and a prayer room at the Greensboro Coliseum. Block parties, street evangelism and door-to-door witnessing are among the Crossover Triad activities slated June 9-10 in Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, prior to the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 13-14 annual meeting in Greensboro. Prayerwalkers will be assigned to Crossover sites where evangelistic efforts are planned. An on-site prayer room will be open at the Greensboro Coliseum beginning Sunday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The room will then be open June 12-14 from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Volunteers will pray for the annual meeting and for opportunities to follow up with people who accept Christ during Crossover. To join a prayerwalk, volunteer for the prayer room or become a prayer partner, register online at www.crossovertriad.org. Bus driver accepts Christ at NAMB service HIGHLAND, Calif. – Seventy-one new … [Read more...]
LifeWay implements church growth strategy
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. – The bigger a church gets, the smaller it has to get, said Maurice Henson, associate pastor of First Baptist Indian Trail, located near Charlotte, N.C. By Andrea Higgins LifeWay Communications INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. – The bigger a church gets, the smaller it has to get, said Maurice Henson, associate pastor of First Baptist Indian Trail, located near Charlotte, N.C. The apparent paradox made perfect sense to Henson’s listeners. Henson’s audience, pastors from across the Union Baptist Association, a collection of smaller membership churches in this southern Piedmont county of North Carolina, were learning about the need for close relationships and building churches through Sunday school. Fourteen Union Baptist Association churches have completed the training. The pastors were in the fourth and final session of a six-month church mentoring program presented by LifeWay Christian Resources in conjunction with First Baptist Indian Trail. For relationships to be meaningful, new members should be engaged immediately in service if the church hopes to keep them as members, Henson said. “If we play patty cake with them, they’re going to go some place else,” he said. Henson was preaching … [Read more...]
Statewide, leaders plan for 2007
ALEXANDRIA – Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) is to be a three-year emphasis in Louisiana, LBC Executive Director David Hankins told leaders last week at the annual Associational Leadership Planning Conference, which took place at Calvary Baptist Church. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) is to be a three-year emphasis in Louisiana, LBC Executive Director David Hankins told leaders last week at the annual Associational Leadership Planning Conference, which took place at Calvary Baptist Church. “What do Louisiana churches need?” Hankins asked. He spoke of renewal both in belief and in behavior, and of the need for a sharpened focus. The EKG Louisiana emphasis will have three phases, Hankins said. • Am I a Kingdom person? Is my church a Kingdom church? Holiness, obedience, trust, purpose and passion are involved in this phase. “We want people to get serious about Bible study, Kingdom principles and a refocus on Jesus,” Hankins said. “We are Kingdom people, but I think we’ve lost focus.” • Phase 2, the Acts 1:8 Challenge process, is designed to get churches to develop strategic plans for missions and ministry locally and globally. • Phase 3 … [Read more...]
Checking out churches: Parkview Monroe opens new doors
MONROE – Tall not-yet-varnished doors (and two greeters) welcomed me when I visited Parkview Baptist Church here on Mother’s Day, as did the beautifully landscaped and maintained property strategically located across from a high school. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor MONROE – Tall not-yet-varnished doors (and two greeters) welcomed me when I visited Parkview Baptist Church here on Mother’s Day, as did the beautifully landscaped and maintained property strategically located across from a high school. The people inside were just as friendly, even a woman who wasn’t going to let her portable oxygen tank interfere with her welcoming a guest. Missions and ministry also are important at Parkview Monroe. They have GAs, RAs and Missions Friends, in addition to Baptist Men and Baptist Women. Local ministries include Bible studies at a local jail, involvement with a community-wide emergency needs endeavor, and even a mission house for missionaries on stateside assignment. I visited Parkview Monroe because Pastor E. Whit Holmes invited me, and was blessed to hear one in a series of “Faith and Family” sermons. He reminded us of the value of the people around us and for sure the congregation’s welcome … [Read more...]
Store reopening rekindles hope
NEW ORLEANS – Closed since suffering damage during Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans LifeWay Christian Store, located on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, celebrated the store’s recent reopening with a dedication ceremony May 12 attended by seminary officials and students, local officials and pastors. By Keith Manuel Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS – Closed since suffering damage during Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans LifeWay Christian Store, located on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, celebrated the store’s recent reopening with a dedication ceremony May 12 attended by seminary officials and students, local officials and pastors. “What is the significance of opening a bookstore in New Orleans at a time like this?” asked Chuck Kelley, president of the New Orleans seminary, during the reopening ceremony. “This store is a reminder that Jesus is Lord and there is hope. …One of the most important gifts Southern Baptists have given to New Orleans is hope.” The LifeWay store, prominently located in the student union area of the seminary, was spared from the flooding during Katrina’s storms that caused heavy damage to most of the campus. But because of the … [Read more...]
Churches bring mission field to state
PINEVILLE – Jesus’ Acts 1:8 imperative sends witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and “the ends of the earth.” By David E. Cranford Special to the Message PINEVILLE – Jesus’ Acts 1:8 imperative sends witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and “the ends of the earth.” Geographical, cultural, and linguistic barriers make “the ends of the earth” the most challenging witnessing field. But sometimes the Lord sends “the ends of the earth” to the witnesses. This summer, for the third consecutive year, a group of South Korean children and chaperones will come “from the ends of the earth” to the U.S. and central Louisiana. The two-week event called CampUSA is co-sponsored by the Korean Baptist Church Development Board and the Central Louisiana/Korean Missions Partnership. The Cenla/Korea Missions Partnership is an official International Mission Board sanctioned limited partnership between the Central Louisiana, North Rapides, and Big Creek Baptist Associations, and the Korea Baptist Mission and the Korean Foreign Mission Board. The partnership includes other things such as Louisiana sending volunteer missionaries to South Korea for church crusades each fall. “Korean parents are willing to send … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 8
- Next Page »