GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)--An Executive Committee recommendation for Woman’s Missionary Union to reaffirm its loyalty to the Southern Baptist Convention failed in a vote by messengers on the opening day of the SBC’s June 13-14 annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C. By David Roach Baptist Press GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – An Executive Committee recommendation for Woman’s Missionary Union to reaffirm its loyalty to the Southern Baptist Convention failed in a vote by messengers on the opening day of the SBC’s June 13-14 annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C. The Executive Committee had adopted the recommendation in a meeting the previous day by an overwhelming majority. The recommendation asked the 118-year-old auxiliary of the SBC to “reaffirm explicitly in [its] governing documents and promotional materials the WMU’s historic, unique, and exclusive promotion of Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries” and/or “become an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention in a manner following the form of the other SBC entities and acceptable to the Convention.” The recommendation came in response to a motion at the 2005 SBC annual meeting questioning the WMU’s allegiance to the SBC, which was referred to the … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP)--The word that two task forces will focus on the spiritual needs of African Americans energized the 150 people at the 2006 annual meeting of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention (NAAF-SBC) in Greensboro, N.C. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – The word that two task forces will focus on the spiritual needs of African Americans energized the 150 people at the 2006 annual meeting of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention (NAAF-SBC) in Greensboro, N.C. A North American Mission Board task force on African Americans has completed its work and a report on its findings and recommendations for strategy planning is expected soon, said Dennis Mitchell, NAMB church planting team leader. NAAF President Mark Croston chaired that task force. Croston announced plans by LifeWay Christian Resources to soon begin a study tailored to ways it can help meet the spiritual needs of African Americans. “It’s an exciting time, to know our agencies are reaching out and being helpful to the African American community,” said Croston, pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va. “This … [Read more...]

ZACHARY – Summer tends to be a busy time for most churches in the state, and it is no exception for youth at First Baptist here. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer ZACHARY – Summer tends to be a busy time for most churches in the state, and it is no exception for youth at First Baptist here. Since early June, the youth have been preparing for an inner-city Vacation Bible School, a clean-up day at the church and week-long Christian camps in Pennsylvania and Florida. On July 10-13, the youth will conduct a Vacation Bible School for approximately 30 children at Glory House, a ministry center for inner-city kids in Baton Rouge. “Each week a different church from Baton Rouge is going to teach VBS there and this will be our week to show Christ’s love to the children there,” First Baptist Youth Minister Trisha Stevens told the Message. Stevens became familiar with Glory House while taking a class at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. When the opportunity arose to volunteer at the center again, she jumped at the chance for her youth to volunteer there. “The class I took at seminary required that I earned some child community service hours,” Stevens explained. “I was so touched by what I saw … [Read more...]

Week of June 19, 2006 Potpourri CLAYTON – Faith church:  Patriotic service; June 24, 6:30 p.m.; Hershel Clanton, pastor. WINNFIELD – First church:  “The Sound of Freedom” patriotic musical; July 2, 11 a.m.; John Holland, minister of music; Lindsey Burns, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Jefferson church:  Patriotic service; July 2, 10:30 a.m.; Alan Shoumaker, minister of music; T. C. French Jr., pastor. NATCHITOCHES – Westide church:  “Magnificent Mondays” with featured guest each Monday in July at 6:30 p.m.; dates/special guests are as follows:  2nd – Lloyd Ponder at special service time of  5 p.m.; 10th – Carroll Marr; 17th – Warren Morris; 24th – Martin Praise Band and 31st – Al Bohl; Gerald Long, interim pastor. MONROE – North Monroe church:  “In God We Trust” patriotic service with special guest, Testify; July 2, 10 a.m.; David McCormick, minister of music/worship; Bill H. Dye, pastor. WEST MONROE – Northeast Association: Sponsoring bass tournament; July 7, 6:15 p.m. fish fry at Loch Arbor church in Monroe; Glenn Chappelear, pro fisherman, to speak following the meal; reservations for meal required; tournament is July 8 on Lake D’arbonne; $50 per boat; prizes awarded for first 10 places and big bass; … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention referred a motion to the International Mission Board raising concern over the appointment of trustees, alleged coercion of IMB staff and the narrowing of doctrinal parameters for missionary appointees. The board is to issue a report at the SBC’s 2007 meeting in San Antonio. By Gregory Tomlin Baptist Press GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention referred a motion to the International Mission Board raising concern over the appointment of trustees, alleged coercion of IMB staff and the narrowing of doctrinal parameters for missionary appointees. The board is to issue a report at the SBC’s 2007 meeting in San Antonio. The call for an investigation of alleged impropriety among IMB trustees was made by Wade Burleson, an IMB trustee from Oklahoma and pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, whose motion called for the SBC Executive Committee to handle the matter. Burleson has been at the center of controversy with the board for several months, but controversy at the SBC was quickly diffused when both Burleson and convention President Bobby Welch said they saw wisdom in waiting a year for the findings of an … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans nine months ago, Fred Luter has learned there is a blessing in waiting on God. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer GREENSBORO, N.C. – Since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans nine months ago, Fred Luter has learned there is a blessing in waiting on God. “But that’s our problem,” Luter told messengers last week during his sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention. “We don’t like to wait for anything. I have come to discover during these last nine months the value of waiting on Him.” Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, where Luter serves as pastor, was underneath eight feet of water when Katrina flooded the city on Aug. 29. As a result, its members were scattered to various parts of the country. Rather than disband, Franklin Avenue Baptist has met at locations in Houston, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Since September, Luter has traveled to those cities on a rotating basis to preach to his congregation. While much progress has been made, Luter said his congregation has a long way to go before worshiping at its original location in New Orleans. “Continue to pray with us and for us that God will continue to use us in a … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, praised God’s provision and sacrificial giving by Southern Baptists during his report to messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 13. By Gary D. Myers NOBTS Communications GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, praised God’s provision and sacrificial giving by Southern Baptists during his report to messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 13. Kelley told messengers the seminary is not going to give in and leave the area despite the difficulties it has encountered in the past 10 months since its campus was inundated with floodwaters after levee failures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The storm put a new semester on hold and dispersed the student body to 29 states and the faculty to nine states. “I’m very happy to tell that New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is going to remain New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” Kelley said. “Our churches are not pulling out of New Orleans and neither are we.” Kelley said the seminary will continue to reach out to its community. “We will not … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Messengers to the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention adopted resolutions on such currently controversial topics as immigration and the environment June 14, but the debate time was dominated by an issue addressed repeatedly in the convention’s 161-year history – alcohol. By Tom Strode Baptist Press GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – Messengers to the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention adopted resolutions on such currently controversial topics as immigration and the environment June 14, but the debate time was dominated by an issue addressed repeatedly in the convention’s 161-year history – alcohol. A lengthy debate on a recommendation concerning the use of alcoholic beverages consumed the Resolution Committee’s report in the morning session. In a departure from recent years, the committee needed the evening session to complete its report. When the back-and-forth on alcohol finally ended, the messengers passed with about a four-fifths majority a resolution not only opposing the manufacture and consumption of alcohol but urging the exclusion of Southern Baptists who drink from election to the convention’s boards, committees and entities. Like other resolutions, it is not binding on SBC churches … [Read more...]

Attempting to analyze any annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is a bit like trying to nail Jell-O ® to a tree. With that said, allow me to share my perspective on one aspect of the SBC Annual Meeting held at Greensboro, NC. Attempting to analyze any annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is a bit like trying to nail Jell-O ® to a tree. With that said, allow me to share my perspective on one aspect of the SBC Annual Meeting held at Greensboro, NC. Discussion concerning the Cooperative Program took center stage on opening day of the annual meeting. The morning session saw messengers debate whether or not a report from an Ad Hoc CP Committee should include language that would encourage churches to give at least 10 percent of undesignated receipts to the CP. Discussion on the subject was passionate, but respectful. Most of those  who opposed including the language that would encourage 10 percent as a benchmark did so on the grounds of the autonomy of the local church. The consensus was that no one should try to tell a local church how much it should give to the Cooperative Program. Those in favor of the language encouraging the 10 percent goal for churches agreed that Southern … [Read more...]

GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – When I was 12 or 13 years old, usually before going to sleep at night, I began to wonder if I would ever know God. By Art Toalston Baptist Press Editor GREENSBORO, N.C. (BP) – When I was 12 or 13 years old, usually before going to sleep at night, I began to wonder if I would ever know God. I believed He existed, but I did not know how to meet Him. There was no one in my life who talked about knowing God. My mother and father didn’t, nor did the people in my neighborhood. No one ever tried to help me learn what the Bible says about how God would change my life. It was a very hopeless feeling and it continued for seven or eight years. When I was a young man, I happened to meet a pastor who asked me if I was a Christian. I told him I wasn’t, that I had heard people say that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, but I had never been told any reason to believe in Him. But when I met the pastor that day and was open to him helping me, I learned that when Jesus was born, God came to earth and that Jesus died on the cross so that I could be forgiven of the sinful things I had done that had separated me from God. I learned that Jesus rose from the dead and will send His Holy Spirit into … [Read more...]