Northeast Baptist School here is a variation on the norm. WEST MONROE – NortheastBaptist School here is a variation on the norm. While all other Southern Baptist schools in Louisiana were begun by a single church, this school was begun by – and continues to be supported by – the Northeast Baptist Association. Indeed, NortheastBaptist School is one of only six schools in the nation owned and operated by an association rather than by a single church, said Ed Gamble, Executive Director of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools. In 1994 a group of Christian laity, through research, found that a large number of Baptist children in the area were attending parochial schools and other private schools, Anita Watson said. In effect, Baptist parents were placing their children under the direction of other theologies. The need for a Baptist school seemed obvious. “They had 34 kids to begin with, 4-year olds through eighth grade, with several combined classes,” said Watson, who began working at the school in 1999. “It just grew a little by little from there,” she said. “The way the school has grown has been very much a God-thing.” The school currently serves 220 students in classes for 3-year-olds up to … [Read more...]
Don Whatley starts Christian schools
Getting a school started takes hard work, but, like anything worthwhile, can have tremendous payoffs, said Don Whatley, missions pastor at Baldwin Baptist Church and founding principal of First Baptist Christian School in Lafayette. BALDWIN – Getting a school started takes hard work, but, like anything worthwhile, can have tremendous payoffs, said Don Whatley, missions pastor at BaldwinBaptistChurch and founding principal of FirstBaptistChristian School in Lafayette. Whatley, who, as a consultant, paid staff member or interested relative,has had his hand in beginning or growing at least five Southern Baptist schools, insists on the need for more private, Christian schools. “People are really looking for something that is godly that they [can] give their children over and beyond what they can get at the public schools,” he said. “The school just took off so rapidly,” Whatley said of First Baptist Christian in Lafayette. “We weren’t expecting it to be that fast. We found out that a lot of folks were looking for something different. At one point we were the fastest growing private school in Lafayette.” Aside from providing quality Christian education, Whatley found that First Baptist Christian also … [Read more...]
Autism teacher brings speakable joy
Joy Stewart, a member of West St. Charles Baptist Church here, has had that “Joy Unspeakable” of knowing Christ for 20 of her 24 years, and she uses every opportunity to share that joy – especially with those for whom much of the world is literally “unspeakable.” BOUTTE – Joy Stewart, a member of WestSt. CharlesBaptistChurch here, has had that “Joy Unspeakable” of knowing Christ for 20 of her 24 years, and she uses every opportunity to share that joy – especially with those for whom much of the world is literally “unspeakable.” Stewart, a therapist who works with autistic children aged 2 to 6 in private early intervention, finds that not only does the work challenge her own faith, she said, but it also gives her the opportunity to unlock a world of relationships – and joy – for children for whom communication is an impossibility. “I am daily, minute by minute asking God for strength, wisdom, creativity and patience to deal with these children with special needs,” she said, explaining that autism is a neurological disorder that affects language and communication skills as well as social skills. “A person with autism may exhibit weaknesses in nearly anything that deals with communication,” she said, and … [Read more...]
Private investigator checks out NO
For private investigator and retired FBI special agent Ron West, pipe fittings and wrenches aren’t the normal tools of his trade. But West said he is satisfied that his recent work in New Orleans made a difference in one family’s life. NEW ORLEANS (BP) – For private investigator and retired FBI special agent Ron West, pipe fittings and wrenches aren’t the normal tools of his trade. But West said he is satisfied that his recent work in New Orleans made a difference in one family’s life. West spent 10 days in New Orleans working with Operation NOAH Rebuild, the two-year initiative of the North American Mission Board to rebuild homes in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Unaccompanied by a group, West came alone to work. “I called Diane Gahagan at the NOAH office and asked if they could use me,” West said. “She said, ‘Sure.’ So I came.” Diane’s husband Steve is the construction manager for Operation NOAH, supervising the reconstruction work of hundreds of volunteer teams. NOAH’s goal is to rebuild 1,000 homes in the Greater New Orleans area, representing 1 percent of the estimated 100,000 homes damaged or destroyed by Katrina. (NOAH is an acronym for New Orleans Area Homes.) As office manager for … [Read more...]
Milestones
Seeking staff Pastor needed at Goodwood Baptist, Baton Rouge. Resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 1813 Beechgrove Dr, Baton RougeLA 70806. Worship leader needed at Trinity Franklinton. Resumes to PO Box 743, Franklinton LA 70438 or email trinitystan@bellsouth.net. Full-time minister of education sought by Riverside Watson. Resumes to 36890 La. Hwy., Denham Springs LA 70706 or email rbcsbc@bellsouth.net. Larry Hubbard is pastor. First Farmerville is accepting resumes for pastor. Video tape messages are welcome. Send to First BaptistChurch, PO Box 296, Farmerville LA 71241. Una George, search committee chairman. Pastorless: Tensas, Delta Association. Pastorless: New Era, Sicity Island First Baptist, and WallaceRidge, all in Ouachita Association. Available Supply pastor: Glyn Nale, Marion, La.; 318.245.8908 cell. Supply pastor: Paul Jackson, Downsville, La. 870.310.3116 cell. Supply or interim: Drew Spillers, 318.245.3033 cell. Interim: J.S. Miller, 318-793-4032. In ministry 40 years; lives in Gardner; willing to move. Valid Christian Rock Band from Delta/Ouachita Associations, with a mission to win the youth for Christ. Members: Trey Motes, Daniel Staneart, Randy Tarpley, Matt Dill, Corey Coleman. … [Read more...]
Louisiana Landscape
MINDEN – North Acres reports 10 professions of faith and at least 20 recorded rededications during its recent revival. New Believers/New Members Survival Kit: Five Keys to Effective Spiritual Growth class starts April 15 through May 27. Upcoming events: Chicken spaghetti lunch and dinner April 20 as a youth fund-raiser. Financial Seminar set for 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5. Couples Supper: Encouragement for parents and grandparents, set for 6 p.m. May 12. Roy Strother is pastor. OAKDALE – “The Spirit-led brainchild of a group of believers in our area,” according to Stephen Laughlin, pastor of First Oakdale, Operation Rescue will be an area-wide “block party” to take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the OakdaleHigh School football field. “The event is an attempt to reach our area for Christ,” the pastor wrote in a recent issue of FBC Connections. “It will include music, entertainment, preaching, and booths with information ranging from abstinence to drug abuse. As a church, we are committed to participate through prayer, finances, and our personal participation.” FERRIDAY – Delta Storefront Mission is in need of men’s clothing and women’s undegarments. Open 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday, … [Read more...]
Rebuke sin and ask God to intercede
John Fluharty says church discipline saved his life. Third and last in a series on church discipline FRANKFORT, Ky. (BP) – John Fluharty says church discipline saved his life. Even though Fluharty was a member of BuckRunBaptistChurch in Frankfort, Ky., he still had major sins in his life. A gambling addiction snowballed until he began embezzling from his employer to fund his habit. But when Buck Run and its pastor, Hershael York, intervened with church discipline, Fluharty repented and began to grow spiritually like never before. “You’re missing something if your church doesn’t have church discipline,” Fluharty told Baptist Press. “God will give you the wisdom and the courage and the knowledge to get through it, but it has to be implemented.” Fluharty’s gambling addiction dated back to before his salvation in August 2005. After making a public profession of faith at Buck Run, he quit gambling for three months but failed to develop devotional habits to help him stay away from his sin. By January 2006, he had started gambling again, and in March the problem escalated to a new level. Fluharty’s wife went on a spring break trip to Florida, leaving him at home. While she was away, he gambled at a … [Read more...]
ERLC refuses position on alternative bill
The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission declined either to support or oppose an alternative stem cell bill approved by the Senate April 11. WASHINGTON (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission declined either to support or oppose an alternative stem cell bill approved by the Senate April 11. ERLC President Richard Land and biomedical consultant C. Ben Mitchell issued a statement prior to the Senate vote commending the bill sponsors’ efforts to advance ethical research but expressing concern the measure might implicitly affirm the destruction of some human embryos. The Senate voted 70-28 for the Hope Offered Through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act (S. 30). Known as the HOPE Act, the bill is designed to promote efforts to derive stem cells with the qualities of those found in embryos –- and known as pluripotent cells -- without creating embryos for experimentation or destroying them. Passage of the HOPE Act followed immediately after the Senate’s 63-34 vote for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5), a bill that would provide federal funds for stem cell experimentation that results in the killing of embryos. S. 5 would OK grants for … [Read more...]
Baptisms reflect healthy churches
Which of the three “B’s” are the best benchmarks on which to judge the health of a Southern Baptist church – buildings, budgets or baptisms? ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Which of the three “B’s” are the best benchmarks on which to judge the health of a Southern Baptist church – buildings, budgets or baptisms? Baptisms is the best indicator, according to a new study, because baptisms measure whether churches are reaching the lost – not just moving believers around. The “Church Planting Survivability and Health Study” was conducted by the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research based in Alpharetta, Ga. Richard Harris, vice president of NAMB’s church planting group, described church planting as “one of the best evangelistic tools available to Southern Baptists. The study validates that church plants have some of the most effective ministries because they have to be contextual to the culture without compromising the message if they are to survive.” The research – based on more than 500 completed telephone interviews sampled from 1,000 church plants from 12 denominations and networks – indicates that flourishing new church plants with a higher-than-average number of baptisms during their first four … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon set to break record
International Mission Board trustees rejoiced during their recent meeting in Memphis, Tenn., that the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the goal of $150 million, which would be a record. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) – International Mission Board trustees rejoiced during their recent meeting in Memphis, Tenn., that the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the goal of $150 million, which would be a record. David Steverson, vice president of finance and treasurer for the International Mission Board, reported the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is projected to exceed the $150 million national goal for 2006. A final report will be released after the May 31 close-out date for the offering receipts. Trustees appointed 49 new missionaries March 21 during a service at KirbyWoodsBaptist Church in Memphis. The latest addition of missionaries brings the total number of overseas personnel to 5,160, including more than 4,000 long-term missionaries on the field. In other business, IMB Personnel Committee Chairman Paul Chitwood said that the ad hoc committees revisiting a baptism guideline and prayer language policy for missionary candidates, both adopted in November 2005, had … [Read more...]
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