NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary elected six professors to the faculty, promoted three faculty members and granted tenure to four professors during their meeting April 12. By Gary D. Myers New Orleans Seminary Public Relations NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary elected six professors to the faculty, promoted three faculty members and granted tenure to four professors during their meeting April 12. Benjamin Harlan, who served on the NOBTS faculty from 1989-95, was elected as professor of church music. He served at the seminary as a presidential appointment during the 2005-2006 school year. A respected composer/arranger and experienced music minister, Harlan served music professor and dean of the school of church music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas from 1995 to 2005. Harlan served six years as a church minister and his choral, keyboard and handbell works have been released by several major music publishers. “Adding Dr. Harlan enhances what we believe is one of the best church music programs in the country,” NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke said. “He is one of the most prolific composers in the … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary set a course for the seminary’s future by establishing two degree-granting extension centers, restructuring undergraduate and church music degrees and launching new doctoral specializations during their spring meeting April 12. By Gary D. Myers New Orleans Seminary Public Relations NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary set a course for the seminary’s future by establishing two degree-granting extension centers, restructuring undergraduate and church music degrees and launching new doctoral specializations during their spring meeting April 12. The meeting opened with an encouraging report from NOBTS President Chuck Kelley. In his remarks, Kelley presented a positive picture of the seminary’s recovery and future. He called attention to the assistance of Southern Baptists in the seminary’s recovery process. “We are very grateful for the difference the Cooperative Program made in the New Orleans Seminary Hurricane Katrina experience,” Kelley said. “Southern Baptists kept a challenge from becoming a crisis.” “We are no longer in survival mode. We are in growth and opportunity mode,” he said. “The SBC threw … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary alumnus and current trustee Mitch Hamilton saw his beloved seminary campus at its worst when he helped students, professors and staff members sift through their belongings following Hurricane Katrina. By Gary D. Myers New Orleans Seminary Public Relations NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary alumnus and current trustee Mitch Hamilton saw his beloved seminary campus at its worst when he helped students, professors and staff members sift through their belongings following Hurricane Katrina. “My memories are all in black and white … they are all gray with cloudy skies … [and everything] is covered with a gray sludge,” Hamilton said of those five difficult days on campus. That was October 2005 – just five weeks after levee failure inundated the campus with water. During a recent trip to campus in April, Hamilton encounter a renewed campus, filled with new life and hope. “There is green grass, the grayness of the sludge is gone and the buildings are being rebuilt,” he said. Hamilton recalled walking up and down the gray streets back in October. Everywhere he turned he saw the broken pieces of homes and personal items – ruined … [Read more...]

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (BP) – Planting churches and giving to the Cooperative Program are two sides of the same coin, pastor Ron Mitchell said. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (BP) – Planting churches and giving to the Cooperative Program are two sides of the same coin, pastor Ron Mitchell said. “We’ve become focused on planting churches, but we’ve done this with a firm commitment that we not reduce our CP giving,” Mitchell said of First Baptist Church of Huber Heights’ support for Southern Baptists’ worldwide missions and ministry. “And now we’re in a building program that’s costly for us but we’re also not going to reduce our missions giving because of it. “We go on mission trips,” he said. “We’ve gone to Brazil, Uganda, Russia, the United Kingdom and Romania since I’ve been pastor here, but the only way to fulfill the Great Commission – to go into all the world – is through the Cooperative Program. “We’re partnering together with other Southern Baptists and extending our mission throughout the world with CP Missions, and we can do that without taking special offerings,” Mitchell said. “When we bring our tithes and offerings every Sunday, that makes us part of a … [Read more...]

In the early church worship services, one would come with a song, another comes with a message from the Lord, another a testimony, and so on. [That’s the way our Wednesday pastors’ gatherings are.] By Joe McKeever BAGNO Director of Misssions Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from Dr. McKeever’s blog. If you’re interested in a running commentary on New Orleans, check out www.joemckeever.com. It’s updated sometimes daily. In the early church worship services, one would come with a song, another comes with a message from the Lord, another a testimony, and so on. [That’s the way our Wednesday pastors’ gatherings are.] Freddie Arnold [BAGNO’s disaster relief coordinator] reports to outsiders that the SBC disaster relief teams which descended on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after the hurricane established a high reputation here for integrity, that they helped to create a spiritual environment that enhanced the Billy & Franklin Graham crusades, and that provided a ray of hope in a dark, dark situation all across this area. Freddie reported that in last week’s Arlington meeting, a representative of the International Mission Board presented a check for $800 from a small group of Muslims … [Read more...]

ARLINGTON, Texas (BP) – “It’s good to be odd for God.” By Tammi Ledbetter Southern Baptist Texan ARLINGTON, Texas (BP) – “It’s good to be odd for God.” That’s what Jim Burton, director of volunteer mobilization at the North American Mission Board, told yellow-shirted disaster relief leaders at the annual Disaster Relief Roundtable, April 25-27 at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Burton quoted 1 Peter 2:9, which describes Christians as “a peculiar people” set apart to do God’s will. Disaster relief volunteers exhibit abnormal behavior as they travel hundreds of miles in crowded vehicles – often with strangers – to volunteer, he said. “It’s not normal to choose to sleep on a floor or shower in a trailer that has wheels on it. It’s not normal to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning – if you even get to sleep at all – to cook thousands of meals, often in high heat and high humidity,” Burton said. Carrying chainsaws to other states to remove debris from the houses of strangers, packing up materials to care for children they’ve not yet met, and risking health by shoveling mud and muck out of flooded homes are other indicators that Southern Baptist volunteers don’t lead normal … [Read more...]

Week of May 8, 2006 Broadman & Holman changes name NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Broadman & Holman Publishers, the trade publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, announced April 27 plans to change its name to B&H Publishing Group, effective June 1. B&H Publishing Group will serve as an umbrella for areas that include academic, children, educational, Spanish and trade books; church supply products; and Bibles and Bible-related products. John Thompson, senior vice president of marketing, said the name change is a result of the desire for greater flexibility in how the organization manages its various products and imprints. Broadman & Holman produces books, Bibles, church supplies and multimedia products. The company’s Holman Bible Publishers division developed the new Holman Christian Standard Bible translation and also is the largest publisher of Spanish-language Bibles in the United States. Visit www.broadmanholman.com for more information. ‘United 93’ viewpoint MACON, Ga. (BP) – The first major film about the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, “United 93,” hit theaters April 28, and commentators across the spectrum are debating it from … [Read more...]

Week of May 8, 2006 By Rhonda Havens Section Editor Potpourri SHREVEPORT – Pinecroft church:  Mercy’s Mark in concert; May 21, 10:45 a.m.; Marty J. Wright, pastor. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp:  Schedule of certification classes:  Challenge Course Certification- May 22-25, $450; Challenge Course Recertification-May 27, $150; Shooting Sports Counselor Training Course-May 23-24, $90; and Level I Basic Archery Instructor Course-May 22-23, $75; all rates are per person and include course, meals and lodging; for more information or to register, call (337) 328-7531; can also visit website at www.drycreek.net; Todd Burnaman, manager elect; Curt Iles, camp manager. LIVINGSTON – Satsuma church:  Ladies Day; May 20, 9 a.m. - 12 noon; Patti Higginbotham and Gwen Davis, guest speaker; Voices in the Wilderness, music; free admission; Andrew Voss, pastor. MORGAN CITY – Immanuel church:  “The Name of Jesus Tour,”  May 17, 6 p.m.; concert performed by Todd Agnew, Big Daddy Weave, Nate Sallie and Jason Morant; $15 per general admission ticket/$12 for groups of 20 or more; for tickets, call (985) 384-1722; Robby Gallaty, pastor. WEST MONROE – Northeast Louisiana association: Area wide crusade at the West … [Read more...]

LONGVILLE – Thirty miles north of Lake Charles lies a field of dreams. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer LONGVILLE – Thirty miles north of Lake Charles lies a field of dreams. On this special baseball diamond, there are no winners or losers. The youngest player is three; the oldest is 57. Regardless of whether they are blind, deaf or wheelchair-bound, these players are given the chance to compete in First Baptist Church of Longville’s Buddy Ball league. Started in the town by First Longville, Buddy Ball allows people with special needs to play baseball by pairing them with able-bodied buddies. Each buddy helps his or her teammate, whether it is helping them run the bases or hitting the ball for them. “People with certain medical conditions are prevented from playing sports most of the time,” said Buddy Ball Organizer Gayla Guidry. “With Buddy Ball, they’re given a chance to play. “We organized this so no one in this parish would get left behind,” she continued. “Their motto is ‘they’re equal, not special.’ “But they don’t feel special if they don’t get to play,” Guidry noted. “You want every child of every ability to get included in sports.” In addition to allowing each disabled player … [Read more...]

DRY CREEK – For only the fourth time in its 81-year history, Dry Creek Baptist Camp in southwest Louisiana has changed camp directors. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor DRY CREEK – For only the fourth time in its 81-year history, Dry Creek Baptist Camp in southwest Louisiana has changed camp directors. And not to death or even retirement, but just because former director Curt Iles believes God wants him to write books unhindered by camp responsibilities. Iles already has written five books, including his newest, “Hearts Across the Water.” Since turning over the reigns May 10 to Todd Burnaman, Iles has started work on a piece of historical fiction centered in 1800s Louisiana. “Todd and I are both products of this camp,” Iles said. “It was just the funnest place in the world. I still have so many friends I met here.” It’s often during a week of camp, free from the distractions that bombard modern-day America, that young people – and their parents –  connect at a deeper – life-directing – level with their Creator. Dry Creek Baptist Camp, owned by Carey, Beauregard, Vernon and Mt. Olive Baptist Associations, is one of 10 retreat centers owned by Southern Baptists in Louisiana. All have … [Read more...]