NEW ORLEANS – With a lifetime of service under his carpenter’s belt, Freddie Arnold knew what was needed when Katrina slammed the region last Aug. 29. NEW ORLEANS – With a lifetime of service under his carpenter’s belt, Freddie Arnold knew what was needed when Katrina slammed the region last Aug. 29. Despite the corrosive salt water that sloshed five feet deep in his house for more than two weeks, the church planting missionary for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans (BAGNO) focused on the needs of others. Nothing could be done for his home furnishings, his clothing, his tools, but there were a lot of other people who could benefit from his presence. “Freddie’s our hero,” said BAGNO DOM Joe McKeever. “He lost everything but put that aside to help everyone else. “Freddie is one of these people who can do everything,” McKeever continued. “He can preach, sing, grow a church through the Sunday school, start churches, lead conferences, fix your car and build your house.” Arnold’s walk with the Lord started when two deacons took him aside one Sunday night and shared the gospel with him. After that, “Every time I heard a religious song or a preacher I faced the fact I had a decision to make,” Arnold said. He … [Read more...]

It’s been a tough year. Even those who put their faith and trust in Jesus have had it hard. It’s been a tough year. Even those who put their faith and trust in Jesus have had it hard. The diffference between them and those who thought they had to do everything themselves is that the people called “Christians” know they aren’t all alone in this. They have Jesus to reach out to, cry with, yell at, lean on, be comforted by, be loved by and reach out to, with love. Who is this Jesus? He is God. That’s why the warmth of God’s love shines through Him, and the strength of God’s power emanates from Him. The Bible says Jesus went through everything mankind does, and yet, he never sinned, he never fell short of God’s expectation. You know you can’t say that. God knows that too. That’s why He sent Jesus – to pay the price for your sins, because that’s the only way you one day can be with Him in heaven. He had to send Jesus, because Jesus was the only one powerful enough to conquer death. That’s how much God loves you: He loves you so much that he allowed Jesus to be whipped, beaten, ridiculed and hung on a cross to die a very public, excruciatingly painful death so that you one day can be with Him in heaven. It’s time for you to … [Read more...]

A prayer and praise rally at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at First Baptist New Orleans is expected to feature a host of luminaries and a short video illustrating recovery efforts. NEW ORLEANS – A prayer and praise rally at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at First Baptist New Orleans is expected to feature a host of luminaries and a short video illustrating recovery efforts. Everyone is invited, says Host Pastor David Crosby. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, is keynote speaker. Southern Baptists Dennis Watson of Celebration Church and Joe McKeever of BAGNO are among several prayer leaders, and praise team leaders from three SBC churches – Williams Boulevard, Franklin Avenue and First New Orleans will be presenting praise and worship with George Huff, a popular local singer who recently earned a ‘runner-up’ slot on American Idol. First New Orleans is located at 5290 Canal Blvd. Also on Aug. 29, NOBTS is planning to send out hundreds of students across Metro New Orleans to minister in as many as 10 ways. … [Read more...]

CHICAGO (BP) – On Nov. 6, 1998, in a three-page article in the journal Science, professor James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin reported that he had developed the first colony of human embryonic stem cells. And the controversy over that discovery continues unabated. Thomson, who holds doctorates in veterinary science and molecular biology, obtained so-called “spare” human embryos from a local IVF (in vitro fertilization) clinic. The embryos were donated for research by couples being treated for infertility and who no longer wanted the embryos. Doubtless, some of this same family of embryos developed in the uteruses of their mothers and are being reared today by those parents. Nevertheless, Thomson placed these tiny, eight-celled embryos into Petri dishes and began to grow them in his lab. When the cells reached the blastocyst stage of about 100 cells, using a very thin glass needle known as a micro-pipette, Thomson removed some of the cells from the inner cell mass. Placing them in a medium rich in nutrients, Thomson and his team were able to grow the colonies of cells for many months. Every human body is composed a number of cell types -- more than 200 different cell types, in … [Read more...]

It’s shortly after noon on a Wednesday afternoon and Rebecca Watts is busy answering the telephone in the Louisiana College student development office. Watts answers each call with a cheerful “hello” to complement her smile. Note: Leading up to the annual Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering (September 17-24), the Message will present reports on ongoing missions work across Louisiana. ALEXANDRIA – It’s shortly after noon on a Wednesday afternoon and Rebecca Watts is busy answering the telephone in the Louisiana College student development office. Watts answers each call with a cheerful “hello” to complement her smile. The recent LC grad has reason to be cheerful. In a few days, she will move to Canada for the beginning of a semester-long missions ministry there. Watts credits her education and the Louisiana Baptist Convention Woman’s Missionary Union for making her dream of missions-service possible. “During my past four years at LC, my classes and professors have prepared me for what I’m about to do in Canada,” the 2006 communications arts graduate said. “Receiving financial help from the WMU helped pave the way for my ministry.” Watts … [Read more...]

Women across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region are invited here Saturday, Aug. 26, for Anne Graham Lotz’ Just Give Me Jesus rally. NEW ORLEANS – Women across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region are invited here Saturday, Aug. 26, for Anne Graham Lotz’ Just Give Me Jesus rally. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. at the 18,500-seat New Orleans Arena for the event set to start at 10 a.m. The arena is in the downtown business district. “Anne will speak about fear and give a message of hope near the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina,” said Vickie Watson, revival committee chairman. “Revival is needed because so many people are hurting.” Lotz is underwriting the cost of the rally, Watson said. Usually area Christians band together to cover the cost, but knowing the financial impact of Katrina on the city and its churches, she offered to fund it. Contemporary Christian artist Fernando Ortega, soloist Stephanie Seefeldt and intercessor Sheila Bailey are set to join with Lotz in Just Give Me Jesus. “From the time Southern Baptists organized as a denomination, in 1845, the desire has been to reach the city of New Orleans with the gospel,” Watson said. “We believe this is the time to … [Read more...]

One of the buzzwords in the business world has been adapted for the Kingdom of God. ALEXANDRIA – One of the buzzwords in the business world has been adapted for the Kingdom of God. About 100 pastors and leaders from Louisiana churches participated in a recent six-hour coaching conference led by Willie McLaurin of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, a trained NextLevel facilitator for the North American Mission Board, which produced The Coaching Leader materials used during the sessions. “The conference enlightened me to some new ideas about relating to my congregation,” said Mac Brunson, pastor of Springhill Baptist Church in Jonesboro. “To coach instead of tell is more suited to my personality.” Alan Miller, director of the LBC pastoral leadership team that hosted the event in the Baptist Building, said it was a conference well worth the time of any pastor or layperson who wanted to improve their leadership training skills. “Coaching is the hot term,” Miller said. “This is a new strategy; it’s pro-active. This workshop provides new skills to help our ministers become more effective Kingdom leaders. “The workshop uses video clips, Power Point and interaction to address the four … [Read more...]

Send in your church newsletter, or the website address of it if you send it out electronically, so news of your church can appear in this new column. Check to make sure your newsletter includes the pastor’s name, church address, telephone, email and website. Calvary Baptist, New Orleans; Keith Manuel, pastor: Church just started a new full-color newsletter called Calvary Times, which was passed out before and after church as a fund-raising project by GAs and RAs, who raised $174 for the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. Newsletter is also available on the church’s website: www.calvaryno.org. Newsletter includes brief profiles of on-mission Christians at the church, Top 10 Volunteer Opportunities, Faith Stories, plus info from four ministry areas in the church: families, small groups, core values and teens. First Baptist, Mansfield; Also has a new publication, or maybe just new sharp full-color look to the Lighthouse. It’s apparently not on the website, but boy does www.firstmansfield.org look sharp! members are already signing up for Christmas in Branson, Mo. First Baptist, Morgan City: David Willoughby, pastor. Sunday School Promotion Day was Aug. 13. Singles and Widows had a … [Read more...]

“Wake up. The levees have broken!” These were the first words I heard Tuesday morning as fellow photographer Eliot Kamenitz kicked my feet and woke me on the floor of the Times-Picayune library. Editor’s note: When Hurricane Katrina hit, several CIP photographers were dispatched to the disaster. For others, including Jamie Bates and Ted Jackson, the disaster came home. Following are some remembrances from those on the scene. “Wake up. The levees have broken!” These were the first words I heard Tuesday morning as fellow photographer Eliot Kamenitz kicked my feet and woke me on the floor of the Times-Picayune library. “Jesus Christ!” came an anonymous reaction from across the room. “Even Jesus can’t help us now,” came another panicked response. Everybody knew what this meant. The worst-case hurricane scenario was upon us. The city was filling like a bowl and there was no time to waste. — Ted Jackson, New Orleans Times-Picayune One of the greatest natural disasters of modern times was centered in the city I call home. I want to take good pictures and tell the stories of the heroes and survivors, but I also feel a need to get my hands dirty helping. — Jamie Bates, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. It seems … [Read more...]