Submitted by philip on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 09:20 For the first time in its 25 year history, YEC was sold out before the doors of the Rapides Parish Coliseum even opened. The 7,567 in attendance shattered the previous record of 7,050 set in 2010. Featuring a powerful message from Clayton King and high-energy music from the band Skillet and worship leaders Jeff Johnson Band, illusionist Joshua Jordan, inspiring messages, testimonies, the Skit Guys and comedian Bob Smiley, the event resulted in 950 spiritual decisions. By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director ALEXANDRIA – In a year set aside for an awakening of Christ among Louisiana Baptists, hundreds of young people answered the call to accept and serve the Lord in record numbers. It was the highest-attended Youth Evangelism Conference ever. Celebrating its 25th year, YEC resulted in 7,567 in attendance and 950 who made decisions, including 398 who accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, 233 who re-committed to Jesus and 55 who indicated a call to ministry. “YEC 2012 shared the stories of those who have been marked by Christ, specifically at YEC, and celebrated what God has done in their lives,” said Kevin Boles, Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]
Crossover 2012 saturates, impacts Northeast Louisiana
Submitted by philip on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 09:26 Robert Spicer, team leader of Crossover Events for Northeast Association, witnesses to a teen at Real Encounter event By Robert Lemoine, Regional Reporter OUACHITA PARISH – Northeast Louisiana Southern Baptists saturated their area repeatedly for four months with the Word of God. Many events across the parish offered fellowship and evangelism to the communities under the anticipation of Crossover this year. Things took place differently this year as compared to years past. Historically, most of the events leading to Crossover take place the weekend before the annual meeting, which took place this year Nov. 12-13 at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. This year, the community outreach started about four months in advance and covered a wide area. “The block parties were spread out over time to allow more churches to participate,” said Bodie Spicer, Pastor of Cheniere Baptist in West Monroe and Evangelism Team Chairman of Northeast Louisiana Baptist Association. “However, the real outreach for Crossover was achieved by door-to-door evangelism in the surrounding communities the weekend prior to the annual meeting.” During the four months previous, … [Read more...]
Christmas celebrations indicate Americans penchant for secularism
By Kelly Boggs, Editor Political pundits, social commentators and even theologians continue to debate what the most recent election results actually indicate about America. However, one reality that seems evident is that just over half of the registered voters in the United States are in favor of a more secular culture. The morning of Nov. 7, we learned that Americans had rejected traditional values, anchored in the principles espoused by the Bible, in favor of homosexual marriage, recreational drug use and candidates who seem enamored by socialist ideas. Some seem shocked at the election results. However, America’s slow slide toward secularism has been taking place for some time now. I would argue that for at least three decades the Christmas season has been a clear indicator of our country’s penchant for secular style over traditional substance. The essence of Christmas, the reason for the season as it were, is the birth of Jesus Christ, nothing more and nothing less. It is distinctly and exclusively a religious holiday; a time when Christians around the world commemorate the birth of their savior, the very reason for their faith. However, in American popular culture the reality of Christmas has not just … [Read more...]
Here are instructions on avoiding spiritual implosion
By Jim Law, Pastor, First Baptist Gonzales I have always been fascinated how engineers can bring down old, unwanted buildings in the middle of a city skyline with relatively little damage to the surrounding area. One thing is for sure in a building demolition project, the engineers are not haphazard in the placement of the explosives. They want the building to implode, not explode. The goal of the engineers is to have the building collapse and fall straight down, as opposed to an explosion that would send shrapnel out into the city. “Implosion” is a violent collapse inward, a violent compression, and it is the method of choice when it comes to the demolition of abandoned buildings. However, the word “implosion” has also become a cultural term used to describe someone who has lost control. A boss who goes on a tirade, a coach who goes on a rant, or a politician whose campaign has lost traction all could be described in popular vernacular as implosions. I believe such an understanding within the context of God’s people could describe a condition of the soul called spiritual implosion. Spiritual implosion could be understood as a professing believer, one who once had a seemingly vibrant walk with Jesus Christ, … [Read more...]
This Christmas season give gifts more precious than gold
By Chuck Bentley, CEO, Crown Financial Ministries As you consider the gifts you will share with friends and loved ones at Christmas, I recommend that you consider giving gifts that will ultimately be more precious than gold. Maybe we can call this the Biblical Gift Guide for the Holiday Season: 1. GIVE FROM WHAT YOU DO HAVE Remember when the beggar outside the temple gate in Jerusalem asked Peter and John for money? Although he was crippled from birth, the beggar was focused on money as the solution to his problem. This story is a picture of the superiority of the treasures we have in knowing Christ. Peter understood this perfectly well. His reply to the beggar should ring in our ears: Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk’ – Acts 3:6. And the crippled man walked! Imagine that electrifying moment. God did not send Peter and John on a mission to give away money. He sent them on a mission to give away Jesus. This year, you may not be in a position to give gifts that people are expecting from you; but this can be your opportunity, like Peter and John, to give from what “you do have.” We have the glorious treasure of the Gospel that gives … [Read more...]
Is 2.56 percent really all that we love Jesus Christ?
By Ronnie Floyd, Senior Pastor, Cross Church Arkansas Imagine what your life would look like if you only committed 2.56 percent of yourself to the things you do. How healthy would your marriage be if you told your spouse, “I love you with 2.56 percent of my heart”? Where would your career be if you performed at only 2.56 percent of your capability? We wouldn’t dream of doing such things. However, a Christian research organization has discovered this is exactly the attitude the average Christian has when it comes to financing the work of the church. A study conducted by Empty Tomb, Inc., located in Champagne, Ill., revealed the average church member only gives an estimated 2.56% of his or her income to any church or charity. We can’t accomplish the massive goals of telling every person in the world about Jesus and making disciples of all nations with such miniscule giving. While it is true that much of the problem is the sin of greediness in the lives of average church members, it also could be the case that our lack of sacrificial giving is the result of disorganization. That’s why there is a great need for Christians to begin to evaluate everything financially. Here are four steps each of us can take to begin meeting … [Read more...]
Remember the importance of the Church
I don’t know if it is the same for you, but I have found that the Lord quite often uses the holiday season to convict me. In his grace and wisdom, God sees fit to use the time-honored tradition of bringing the most eccentric and peculiar people together under one roof in the name of family to, as Paul says, conform me to the image of his Son – Romans 8:29. The Lord also providentially uses the holidays and its stresses of packing cars, driving across country (in traffic), answering the “are we there yet” question 152 times to remind me that my hope only comes from him – along with my forgiveness. These trip troubles, relational stresses, and materialistic cravings that so often accompany this season remind us of where our hearts are not, and where our hearts should be. I am sure we all feel it; maybe some of us have even said it: “Thanksgiving should not only be a holiday; it should be an attitude that defines us as believers.” Giving thanks is what we should be doing every week, every day, every hour. Yet, even with such laudable thoughts in mind, it was not always gratitude that filled my heart but rather a short temper and a slow, steady burn caused by the stresses at hand and, if completely honest, the exorbitant … [Read more...]
Questions We’ve Pondered
Question: If “God hates divorce” (Malachi 2:16), then why does Ezra command the remnant to “put away” their foreign wives (Ezra 10:3-5)? Archie England responds: Malachi 2:16 powerfully asserts, God hates divorce. That’s it: case closed! Well, perhaps not so quickly. Ezra commanded the returned remnant (from Babylonian captivity) to divorce their foreign wives. Since both Ezra and Malachi lived during the 5th century BC and ministered in the same context, they appear to have taken radically different positions on the Law’s allowance for divorce. Let’s investigate. Moses presented two passages that allow for divorce: Deut 22:13-30 and 24:1-3. A wife could be “put away” by death or by certificate. The divorce certificate issued, then, protected the woman, declaring her innocent of marital unfaithfulness. Having such a certificate was therefore important, as Isaiah and Jeremiah attested (Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 3:8). Malachi reached his conclusion at the end of his discussion about God’s covenant and Israel’s unfaithfulness (2:1-16). God desired faithfulness; not ritual. To illustrate, Malachi reminded them of Levi’s covenant with God and how that obligated all Levites and priests to lead a holy life – ministering and teaching … [Read more...]
Report: State staff works hard to resource churches
Submitted by philip on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 10:54 LBC Executive Director David Hankins (white shirt) leads prayer at the Caldwell Parish Courthouse in Columbia on March 8 as part of Louisiana Southern Baptists praying for a spiritual awakening in the state. The Wave of Prayer took place in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes. By Karen L Willoughby, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – Throughout each year, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s staff of 60 employees in-building serve the LBC’s 1,611 churches. The reports of their activities are part of the LBC’s 2012 Book of Reports, available upon request from the office of Executive Director David Hankins. “We are accountable to our churches and we want them to know about the impact of our cooperative missions and ministries across Louisiana,” Hankins said Following is a synopsis of the activity in each of seven resource teams. Executive Team The work of the Executive Board, led by current President Rick Byargeon, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston and Vice-President Bob Heustess, pastor of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Slidell, is channeled into four committees: administrative, business and finance, properties and missions support. The … [Read more...]
Record setting LC football team earns first berth in D3 playoffs
Submitted by philip on Tue, 12/04/2012 - 11:10 BELTON, TX – Despite an early exit from the NCAA Division III football playoffs, the future never looked brighter for the Louisiana College Wildcats. Despite losing 59-20 to perennial D3 powerhouse, American Southwest Conference champion, and the No. 2 ranked University of Mary Hardin Baylor Crusaders, the Wildcats (8-3) certainly have no reason to hang their heads. In fact, the Cats’ outstanding season should give Louisiana College plenty to build upon. After four straight 7-3 seasons, LC (8-3) turned in its finest season in modern-day school history by winning eight games this year. There only two regular season losses came at the hands of two nationally ranked powers [UMHB 30-3 and Wesley 25-22]. They also became the first Louisiana College men’s team to make the Division III playoffs. The softball team has played in eight straight regional, placing third in the 2008 Division III World Series. The women’s basketball team has made the playoffs three years in a row, winning a first-round game last year. “Any time your fate is in the hands of a committee [LC was hoping to be one of eight wildcard bids in the 32-team playoffs, with 24 spots going automatically … [Read more...]
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