WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (BP) – As a pastor and former missionary, Calvin Wittman wonders how many more people could be reached if churches expanded their participation in Cooperative Program (CP) Missions. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (BP) – As a pastor and former missionary, Calvin Wittman wonders how many more people could be reached if churches expanded their participation in Cooperative Program (CP) Missions. “A pastor has to ask, what could we do in impacting the lostness in our world if every person would get involved in the Cooperative Program? How many more people could be reached?” Wittman, pastor of Applewood Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colo., said. “What could we do if every church cooperated the way they want their members to cooperate?” Wittman continued. “If we’re not as a church giving at least 10 percent to the Cooperative Program, how can we ask our members to tithe? “I know there are other ways of doing missions, but there is no better way than the Cooperative Program. I’m talking to you as a former missionary,” said Wittman, Applewood’s pastor since 1999 and an IMB career missionary in Spain before that. “The Cooperative Program is the most effective way … [Read more...]

Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable,” observed G.K. Chesterton. The British social critic’s words have never been truer, especially when applied to the health and well-being of America’s teenagers. By Kelly Boggs Editor Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable,” observed G.K. Chesterton. The British social critic’s words have never been truer, especially when applied to the health and well-being of America’s teenagers. America’s cultural and educational elite vehemently condemn adolescent smoking as an inexcusable evil. At the same time, sex is treated as an inevitable behavior that teens are going to engage in. The elite believe nothing can be done to curb adolescent sex. Instead, they want to provide teens with comprehensive information so kids can make informed choices. Even the most casual observer would have to admit that our current dominant culture accepts teenage sex as a lesser evil than adolescent smoking. Take the way smoking has been addressed in the United  States in recent years. In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon … [Read more...]

Christians live in an age where there is a gap between “what is” and “what should be.” Unfortunately, we do not fully know what “what is” really is. By Thom S. Rainer President, LifeWay Christian Resources Christians live in an age where there is a gap between “what is” and “what should be.” Unfortunately, we do not fully know what “what is” really is. We do not truly understand the health of our churches, the level of commitment of their members, or the level of impact churches are having in their communities. As a result churches become inefficient in reaching the spiritually lost with the gospel. We do come closer to having an idea of what should be, but we don’t know how to close the gap. LifeWay Research will help churches, Christians, culture and the unchurched clearly identify their respective realities. Additionally, LifeWay Research will propose ways to close the gap so that what should be becomes the new “what is.” I announced the launch of LifeWay Research a couple weeks ago at LifeWay’s semi-annual trustee meeting, six days after officially becoming LifeWay Christian Resources’ ninth president. I do not state this lightly: My goal is to make LifeWay Research the premier Christian … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Looking to God and not to headlines, members of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee prayed Feb. 20 for the work of the SBC’s two mission boards. By Art Toalston Baptist Press editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Looking to God and not to headlines, members of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee prayed Feb. 20 for the work of the SBC’s two mission boards. Addressing controversies that have buffeted the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board in recent weeks, EC President Morris H. Chapman asked EC chairman and California pastor Rob Zinn to lead in a time of prayer for the two entities. The IMB had called for the removal of one of its trustees over accountability issues, but the board’s executive committee recently called for the request to be dropped in light of accountability guidelines to be proposed by a trustee committee. NAMB, meanwhile, has challenged the accuracy and fairness of an analysis piece in The Christian Index, newsjournal of the Georgia Baptist Convention, alleging deficiencies in the entity’s work in evangelism and church planting and its retention of fulltime missionaries. NAMB also challenged the paper’s … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – The Louisiana Director of Missions Fellowship met Feb. 21 at the Baptist Mission Center in Pineville for its quarterly meeting. The gathering was characterized by warm fellowship and an emphasis on ministry. By Kelly Boggs Editor PINEVILLE – The Louisiana Director of Missions Fellowship met Feb. 21 at the Baptist Mission Center in Pineville for its quarterly meeting. The gathering was characterized by warm fellowship and an emphasis on ministry. Following a light lunch, Fellowship president, Herb Dickerson – DOM for Big Creek, Central Louisiana and North Rapides Associations – provided leadership for a program that included updates on recovery efforts in New Orleans as well as introductions to ministries taking place in Louisiana. Joe McKeever, DOM of BAGNO, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, indicated the situation is still very difficult in the Crescent City. “If you really want to hurt someone in our city,” McKeever said, “just say to them, ‘I hear things are back to normal in New Orleans.’” Freddie Arnold, a church planter missionary with BAGNO, whose responsibilities now include coordinating the disaster relief and recovery operations, reported there is still much … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – For 10 years, David Crosby tried to get the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to consider the Crescent City. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor NEW ORLEANS – For 10 years, David Crosby tried to get the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to consider the Crescent City. The pastor of First Baptist Church of New Orleans was chairman of an interfaith effort to make that happen, but somehow, it never did. “I think the Graham name is the name that is most able to unite the largest number of people in the New Orleans area for a spiritual event,” Crosby said. But because not enough of a cross-section of the Christian community would commit to being involved, the Graham organization said the time wasn’t right. Then Katrina hit, and within days Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse organization was on the ground, with chaplains, food and water. “They have made a long-term commitment to the Gulf Coast,” Crosby said. Some of the pastors spoke to Franklin Graham about the 10-year effort, and by November, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association agreed to fully underwrite a festival now set for March 11-12 in the New Orleans Arena, which seats 18,500. In late January, Crosby … [Read more...]

WEST MONROE – Three weeks after Claiborne Baptist Church here closed its doors forever, Faith Baptist Church was born. In all, 35 people participated in the first service of the new start; the charter rolls remained open until March 1. WEST MONROE – Three weeks after Claiborne Baptist Church here closed its doors forever, Faith Baptist Church was born. In all, 35 people participated in the first service of the new start; the charter rolls remained open until March 1. “This is a work God has been doing for three years,” said founding pastor Mike Thompson. “I wouldn’t have tackled this on my own for a million dollars, but it’s exciting to see what God is doing.” Claiborne Baptist started in 1951 as Nelson Baptist, and was renamed Claiborne Community in the mid-1970s when what some said was a charismatic faction took over. The North Louisiana congregation dwindled by 1981 to five families, and after a two-year legal tussle, the property reverted to Southern Baptists. Twenty years after that, the congregation asked Thompson to lead a mid-week Bible study; four months later, he was called as pastor. Since then the congregation has made great strides in spiritual maturity, and has begun to witness in the … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – With an emphasis on “frangelism,” Pastor Fred Luter led the 8,314 pre-Katrina resident members of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church to baptize 309 people in the 2004-05 church year. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing editor NEW ORLEANS – With an emphasis on “frangelism,” Pastor Fred Luter led the 8,314 pre-Katrina resident members of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church to baptize 309 people in the 2004-05 church year. Other leaders included Airline Baptist, Bossier City, an 837-member congregation, with 128 baptisms; Lighthouse Baptist, Shreveport, a 200-member congregation, with 58 baptisms; and Crossroads Community in Kenner, a 108-member congregation, with 56 baptisms. The evangelism team of the Louisiana Baptist Convention Feb. 22 released tentative figures for baptisms in the 2004-05 church year. The “tentative” was because with the destruction of New Orleans, many records were lost that might have changed final totals, said Wayne Jenkins, evangelism team leader. In all, 12,586 people are known to have made their faith public by being baptized in Louisiana Baptist churches during the 2004-05 reporting year. “We’re excited about what God has done through the ministry of Louisiana … [Read more...]