WOODWORTH – With little discussion and no dissension, a new way of dealing with the state convention’s annual budget passed unanimously at the spring Executive Board meeting. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor WOODWORTH – With little discussion and no dissension, a new way of dealing with the state convention’s annual budget passed unanimously at the spring Executive Board meeting. A related action designed to send additional dollars to national Cooperative Program causes without hurting LBC coffers also passed unanimously. The Cooperative Program maximizes the Southern Baptist Convention’s missions thrust throughout the world. “It’s a very conservative budget plan, very similar to the national denomination’s,” said David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, in explaining the Conservative Budget Policy Motion to board members. “The rationale is that it keeps you from planning budgets you later have to cut” when income doesn’t meet projections. In the past, the budget planning subcommittee was charged with the responsibility of setting the next year’s budget. They did so based on needs presented by LBC team leaders and a guesstimate of projected income from … [Read more...]

the eyes of 20 teenagers, though they maintained a strict military bearing even when they bowed their heads in prayer. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor DOYLINE – Excitement danced in the eyes of 20 teenagers, though they maintained a strict military bearing even when they bowed their heads in prayer. After making several wrong choices in their lives, this one, they knew, was a good decision: baptism to symbolize their commitment to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “I want to make it official that the Lord, the Holy Spirit, is dwelling with me,” said Jeremy Dittler, 17. “I want to give myself to the Lord; I feel like I need Him,” said Casey Ellis, 17. “He’s going to show me what I need to do in my life to make the choices I need to make, instead of the ones I used to make.” “I just figure it’s a big step for me changing my life,” said Kendall Ardoin, 17. “I felt myself getting into more and more trouble. I came to Jesus before it was too late.” For the last three years, members of First Baptist Doyline have been carpooling one Sunday each month to the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program at Camp Minden, where about 125 teens live in “a five-month residential … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – People from across the South traveled here to honor Louisiana Baptist Convention’s outgoing Baptist Collegiate Ministries Team Director John Moore, who was ensnared by LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., after 29 years in Louisiana. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – People from across the South traveled here to honor Louisiana Baptist Convention’s outgoing Baptist Collegiate Ministries Team Director John Moore, who was ensnared by LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., after 29 years in Louisiana. In his new role he will serve as a liaison between LifeWay and churches in a five-state region of the South that includes Louisiana, Moore said. “It’s like a funeral with these flowers here and everything,” grinned Bill Collins, BCM director at Northwestern State University in Natchidoches, who served as emcee of a noontime program at the Baptist Building. “But the corpse is still walking around and making jokes.” Banners hung from the third-floor railing from various colleges, universities and BCMs across the state. Centerpieces on 15 tables echoed the collegiate theme. In addition to accolades from several, and recognition of several family … [Read more...]

WINNSBORO – When Temple Baptist Church here formally voted to support Louisiana College’s recent trustee action, other churches started doing the same. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor WINNSBORO – When Temple Baptist Church here formally voted to support Louisiana College’s recent trustee action, other churches started doing the same. LC trustees voted a revision of the Christian Commitment policy for faculty, staff and administrators at their April 3-4 meeting. “The issue here is not individual sin, but the concept of exemplifying a Christian lifestyle,” said Tim Johnson, chairman of the LC board of trustees and pastor of First Baptist Choudrant. “That’s what sets us apart from other institutions: We are a liberal arts college that is distinctively Christian. The policy for the first time in recent history addresses the issue of beverage alcohol: Faculty, staff and administrators “are expected to abstain from serving, using, or advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public and/or in settings in which students are or are likely to be present.” (See #5 below.) Temple Winnsboro voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting the Christian Commitment statement and the … [Read more...]

JERSEY CITY, N.J.(BP)--Trustees of the North American Mission Board met May 2, their first meeting since the resignation of NAMB President Bob Reccord. The board approved 74 new missionaries and 63 SBC-endorsed chaplains, elected new officers and approved a resolution expressing appreciation for Reccord’s term of service. By Martin King For Baptist Press JERSEY CITY, N.J.(BP)--Trustees of the North American Mission Board met May 2, their first meeting since the resignation of NAMB President Bob Reccord. The board approved 74 new missionaries and 63 SBC-endorsed chaplains, elected new officers and approved a resolution expressing appreciation for Reccord’s term of service. The mission board’s trustees also heard encouraging reports on NAMB’s ministries across the United States and Canada, and they were affirmed and challenged by SBC President Bobby Welch concerning their search for Reccord’s successor. “Your choice for the next leader of this ministry may be the greatest ministry contribution of your life,” Welch told the trustees, about 40 in number at the meeting. “Don’t mess up. On behalf of 16 million Southern Baptists in 45,000 churches, don’t mess up. You’ve got to get this right because the … [Read more...]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – Expressing displeasure over what they call a “narrowing of cooperation through exclusionary theological and political agendas” in the Southern Baptist Convention, a group of Southern Baptist conservatives issued a document May 3 calling on the convention to repent of such behavior. By Don Hinkle The (Missouri) Pathway MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – Expressing displeasure over what they call a “narrowing of cooperation through exclusionary theological and political agendas” in the Southern Baptist Convention, a group of Southern Baptist conservatives issued a document May 3 calling on the convention to repent of such behavior. Called the “Memphis Declaration,” the 990-word document is the culmination of two days of discussions involving about 31 Southern Baptists from a variety of perspectives. Much of the concern expressed by participants was motivated by recent developments at the SBC’s International Mission Board and with other SBC entities and leaders. “We gathered together in Memphis to share our concerns and articulate our hopes and dreams for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention,” said Benjamin Cole, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, and facilitator of … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Louisiana College head coach Tim Whitman learned early Monday morning that his softball team had received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Softball National Tournament. The fifth ranked Lady Wildcats will travel to Indianola, Iowa for the eight-team regional that will be hosted by Simpson University. Indianola is approximately 10 miles south of Des Moines. By Louisiana College Sports Information PINEVILLE – Louisiana College head coach Tim Whitman learned early Monday morning that his softball team had received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Softball National Tournament. The fifth ranked Lady Wildcats will travel to Indianola, Iowa for the eight-team regional that will be hosted by Simpson University. Indianola is approximately 10 miles south of Des Moines. Despite being the top ranked team in the Atlantic Region according to the last NCAA Regional rankings, LC (36-7) was sent out of their region and are in a regional that features the defending national champion and current top ranked team, St. Thomas (Minn.). LC is the three-seed in the regional. Five of the eight teams are ranked in the top 25. "Well, we’re in," Whitman said. "This is quite possibly the toughest … [Read more...]

FREMONT, Calif. (BP) – The primary reason Family Bible Fellowship is part of the Southern Baptist Convention is the Cooperative Program. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor FREMONT, Calif. (BP) – The primary reason Family Bible Fellowship is part of the Southern Baptist Convention is the Cooperative Program. It’s not just because Cooperative Program dollars helped start the church in 1988, but because of what the CP Missions endeavor stands for, pastor Horatio Jones noted. “We try to make a difference in our community and around the world,” Jones said. “The Cooperative Program is a way in which we can fulfill the biblical mandate. ... The Cooperative Program is the very essence of the reason for the existence of the church.” Family Bible Fellowship gives more to CP Missions than any other predominantly African American church in California, said Tom Kelly, recently retired strategist with African American churches in the California Southern Baptist Convention. “From day one we’ve always been a strong supporter and consistent supporter of CP Missions,” Jones said. “We stand with the SBC’s strong commitment to reach all people and fulfill the Great Commission. “Our philosophy is that if we … [Read more...]

“You know how Scripture talks about your life like it’s a house. II Corinthians 5:1 is one, but our favorite is Revelation 3:20. Jesus says, ‘I stand at your door and knock. If any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in....’ By Joe McKeever BAGNO Director of Missions 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. “You know how Scripture talks about your life like it’s a house. II Corinthians 5:1 is one, but our favorite is Revelation 3:20. Jesus says, ‘I stand at your door and knock. If any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in....’ “I have gotten that wrong all these years. Often, when presenting that to children, I would draw a picture of a house that Jesus wants to enter. It would be a lovely suburban house, the type you might live in. But that’s exactly wrong. “The house Jesus is talking about is one of our flooded, ruined, devastated houses. The shingles are missing, the outside walls carry the high water level stains, and the inside is ruined. And here you are (I sat on the piano stool, dropped my head, and pulled myself … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (BP) – The United States House of Representatives has approved a measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus’ name at public events. By Baptist Press Staff WASHINGTON (BP) – The United States House of Representatives has approved a measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus’ name at public events. The provision gained approval as part of a $513 billion    Department of Defense authorization bill, which the House passed in a 396-31 vote May 11. The Armed Services Committee had attached the prayer measure to the overall bill before sending it to the full House. The Senate will still have to approve the language as part of the authorization legislation. The new language says: “Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible.” The provision seeks to correct what some House members have considered inappropriate military restrictions, especially on evangelical chaplains who normally follow the New Testament pattern of praying in Jesus’ name. The Air Force issued … [Read more...]